The narcissistic type.

My parents rarely celebrated my birthday. My wife hardly celebrates it (though I go all out on hers because I enjoy it and usually it’s a good excuse to travel).

I was on an international work trip over my birthday once and the whole group recognized it with a small celebration and it was really nice and thoughtful.

I can understand why people like that. It’s never really been my thing and I think because I never emphasize it, my parents and my wife haven’t either. So I think the people who emphasize it are the ones who really care about it - so I do try to meet them halfway.

I don't expect others to make a big deal of my birthday but I do always take it off from work. I don't want to work on my birthday, so I don't.

Anonymous wrote:My SIL. Assume her parents didn't do much for her birthdays when she was young. Even though she's in her 70s, she celebrates for an entire month.

Celebrating is fun, but at some point so many gifts and cakes for adults all month become narcissistic.

Bingo. And the constant sharing of pictures on social media - "Look at me me me me!"

Ha. Today is my birthday and I took the day off, just like I do every year. Who wants to work on their bday? Not me. I had a day full of pampering me. I deserve it.

My SIL. Assume her parents didn't do much for her birthdays when she was young. Even though she's in her 70s, she celebrates for an entire month.

Celebrating is fun, but at some point so many gifts and cakes for adults all month become narcissistic.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, this is a major pet peeve of mine. Adults (almost always women) who make a huge deal out of their bday, often stretching it into multiple parties/get-togethers throughout the month. I'm not talking special bdays, such as 30, 40, 50, etc. That's a little different. I'm talking your random 47th or 52nd. Seriously? Happy to take you out to lunch and give you a card, but that's the end of that.

DH and I simply exchange cards and go out to dinner. We're not kids anymore.

+1. I have an acquaintance who had a huge birthday party for her 46 or 47th birthday, followed up by another party out on a boat cruise several weeks later, with mostly the same women who came to her birthday party. It was odd.

Anonymous wrote:DW has a friend that always does something outlandish for her birthday, total PITA. She’s in her 60’s with know kids and always wants to go away. F that. Have a dinner and call it a day. Also, people that take off work for their birthday. Bunch a BS.

Ha! My boss loves days so much that we now all must take off on our bdays.

DW has a friend that always does something outlandish for her birthday, total PITA. She’s in her 60’s with know kids and always wants to go away. F that. Have a dinner and call it a day. Also, people that take off work for their birthday. Bunch a BS.

Oh, this is a major pet peeve of mine. Adults (almost always women) who make a huge deal out of their bday, often stretching it into multiple parties/get-togethers throughout the month. I'm not talking special bdays, such as 30, 40, 50, etc. That's a little different. I'm talking your random 47th or 52nd. Seriously? Happy to take you out to lunch and give you a card, but that's the end of that.

DH and I simply exchange cards and go out to dinner. We're not kids anymore.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know someone whose birthday is January 1, so it was never celebrated during her childhood. So she makes a big deal of it as an adult.

I don't understand why having a Jan. 1 birthday means it wasn't celebrated. Because they were busy celebrating New Year's Day?

I have a cousin born on Christmas. She makes a big deal out of it, but that's the last day I would want to be born. My sister, born on the 4th of July, also thinks she's a hotshot

Anonymous wrote:My ILs! Only they only ever want to make a huge deal out of their own birthdays and wedding anniversaries - never can remember ours - and DH and I have been married 26 years.

They’re local and always insisted upon a full family gathering or dinner out for their birthdays.

As long as they are paying and you don't have to buy a gift for them - why would you care?

I have a mid-40s friend who’s obsessed with her birthday and expects gifts and celebration. She is exhausting. And materialistic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know someone whose birthday is January 1, so it was never celebrated during her childhood. So she makes a big deal of it as an adult.

I don't understand why having a Jan. 1 birthday means it wasn't celebrated. Because they were busy celebrating New Year's Day?

It’s similar but not as bad as a Christmas birthday. When you are little you do not have traditional birthday party with other kids because parents are not taking their kid to a birthday on new year days. Just like no one has a birthday party on or around Christmas. Though most people with these dates really do not think birthday parties are a big thing because they never had them.

The solution is to have a kids' party in May or October or something. Parents should think of that more often.

Anonymous wrote:Some people like to celebrate things and have a good time. The others just stew in their bitter, sad lives.

Or they had so many miserable birthdays as a child for whatever reason that they don't like theirs as an adult.