Birthday question?

[DeniseinNS]

Their birthday is their birthday and that is when it should be celebrated, I personally think it would be weird to have a birthday on the "half birthday"

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am not a big birthday celebrator and like to be low key so of course I would not do a half birthday.

But hey whatever works for you, it is really none of my business.

 

[kacaju]

You sound like a wonderful Aunt.
I worry though because you will be setting yourself up for something that in the long run may drive you crazy. From reading this it sounds like you are single and these are your sister's kids.
Do you have any other siblings?? If so once you start this you will feel the need to do so with all other niece's and nephews.
What about once you get married and have your own kids?
If your husband has nieces and nephews? Will you extend this tradition to them?

It sounds nice now, but look at the bigger picture... do you really want to do this year after year??

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I'm seriously considering a half-birthday for my dd this year. Her birthday is November 30 and every year since she could talk she's begged for an outdoor party in the summer. I'm considering renting the pool that we're members of and doing a joint party for her and ds....his birthday is in late June. If I do this, I will suggest that she not receive gifts so that it doesn't seem like a gift-grab. She would just get a family dinner on her actual birthday. We usually celebrate her birthday with extended family on Thanksgiving. I haven't decided yet but she's all about it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Anyone ever let there winter birthday child have a "half" birthday so they could enjoy a summer birthday with summer activites? My DC has asked if we can celebrate her birthday early so she can have a party on our vacation. I guess part of the issue is her sister, me, her mom, and my mom all have summer birthdays withn a month of each other (aug 5, aug30, sep 1st)

We have the opposite problem -- DD10's birthday is in late July. We give her party a month earlier, right after school gets out so that her classmates and her softball team can be invited. We may even have it before school gets out this year -- we often have RSVP and attendance problems with all of the end of school papers coming home, etc.

For winter birthdays, you could bring summer to you and have the party at an indoor pool/rec area. Our local one has rock climbing and a pool with a number of slides. DS16's birthday is in January, and this went well when he was having parties.

 

[pyrxtc]

My DD has a December 20th birthday and doesn't like it. Family tries to give her a birthday/Christmas present but also will only spend the same amount they spent on the other kids even though technically it should be twice the amount or two separate presents. She has asked repeatedly for a half birthday and this year we may let her. Usually she doesn't get to have a birthday party til February anyways (or even later) since that is when all her friends can attend. They go out of town for break in the winter and skiing takes up a lot of their January free time so now sleepovers or even hanging out.

I don't see a problem with a half birthday as long as it's the only "Birthday" they get. Party and presents in the summer and come December, a cake with siblings and parents and nothing else.

 

[fimac]

I have a son with a Jan. first birthday, his party with his friends is always later. It started the year my father was dying and we found it just works better for every one.

What does she want ? If it is just a special meal with family where she is the guest of honor and to get to pick a ride that she wants to go on when you are on vacation, go for it. I would be tempted to call it her special day to avoid any confusion.

 

[scrapquitler]

I have a friend with three children: A May birthday, A July birthday and a November birthday. They have a beautiful back yard with a big pool. The two kids with the May and July birthdays always wanted a pool party instead of any other type of party, and they always had that. But of course, here in CT you can't have a pool party in November, and the little girl with the November birthday always wanted a pool party. My friend, the Mom, said Okay, you can have a pool party too, but you'll have to wait until June when the pool is warm enough...so instead of having her birthday party in November, they had it in June (and now still do it every year). The family party is still in November, but the friends party is in June or July...its no big deal, its not like she gets "two birthdays" and it is unfair as someone else implied...her friends party is just delayed until June. The other two children still have both their family party and their friends party, its all fair, and everyone is happy.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

My sister and I were born exactly 2.5 years apart. We always celebrated with a half birthday on each other's birthday. If she got a birthstone ring on her birthday, my mom would buy me a birthstone ring too, but I wouldn't get all the other gifts she got, and vice versa. I LOVED getting to celebrate my half birthday, and sharing a half birthday with my sister. Now, as an adult, I always want to celebrate my birthday in summer, rather than having a cold, dreary, winter birthday. I hate having a birthday in the cold month of February. This year I went to Key West in February and have decided that from now on, I am going to Florida to celebrate with sunshine and warm weather.

I say let your cousin have a half birthday celebration. Nothing wrong with having an extra celebration. You're a great cousin for thinking of her.

 

[tinkerbell198530]

I wonder if you can legaly cange your b-day, like if your b-day was on feb 29 you would only get a b-day every 4 years. so can you change it to the day before or the day after the 29

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I'm a December baby, and I would have LOVED to switch it, it just wasn't thought of nearly 30 years ago. My cousin did it in his early teens for quite a few years (he is 12/23) and it was nice for him. He got a few small gifts on his actual b-day, and the cake/party etc on his "half" birthday.

I say GO FOR IT!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Two more things....since everyone has birthdays in the summer, that actually adds to the b'day pressures, instead of taking away pressure like with my family friend. His mom and sister are oct b'days, not sure when his dad's is, but really the biggest problem was the present/party issue at the same time as xmas. Switching when they honored his b'day helped the whole family, took the pressure off. It wasn't just about a party, but about finances and making sure he had one day that was "his".

Second thing is that the family friend is 38, I've known him all of his life, and they always celebrated his b'day on the halfday...so they must have been ahead of their time. That or just really really broke in December. (I'm going for a combo)

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

You sound like a wonderful Aunt.
I worry though because you will be setting yourself up for something that in the long run may drive you crazy. From reading this it sounds like you are single and these are your sister's kids.
Do you have any other siblings?? If so once you start this you will feel the need to do so with all other niece's and nephews.
What about once you get married and have your own kids?
If your husband has nieces and nephews? Will you extend this tradition to them?

It sounds nice now, but look at the bigger picture... do you really want to do this year after year??

Actually these are my cousins, but they are like sisters to me. I would be totally cool with doing this every year sinc im home almost all summer.

 

[KAMLEM]

Actually these are my cousins, but they are like sisters to me. I would be totally cool with doing this every year sinc im home almost all summer.

Shouldn't this be the mother's decision? I wouldn't be happy if someone tried to "change" my daughter's birthday.

Why can't the kid just have a party in the summer, why does it have to be a birthday party? The only real difference is gifts and you said that there wouldn't be any gifts.