If you have a Dec Birthday...

[Zandy595]

My DS just turned 14 on the 19th. I agree with other posters about no combined gifts or Christmas wrapping paper. We don't do it, but other family members do this every year.

My mom just gave DS a present wrapped in Christmas paper. But what's even worse is MIL & FIL didn't even give him a present at his bday party because they bought him one combo gift that he won't get to open until Christmas. He said it didn't bother him, but I could tell he was upset about it. Who goes to a bday party for their grandson and doesn't bring a gift, even something really small?

Things we do: DH and I always take DS out to his choice of restaurant one night and we also have a party on or near his bday. NO holiday tablecloth, plates, cups or napkins and absolutely NO Christmas cake. He gets seperate presents for his birthday that have nothing to do with Christmas.

 

[Zandy595]

My FIL had the poor luck to be born ON Christmas day! I don't know what happened as a kid, but as an adult they'd celebrate his half birthday on June 25 rather than trying to do it on Christmas day.

My DB1's b-day was last week. Growing up we didn't do much for b-days in general, just cake after dinner and a present or two. My parents of course did the same for DB1 as what DB2 and I goth, and made sure they didn't skimp on the presents just because Xmas was around the corner. Since it was plan to see that DB1 had the same b-day "celebration" that my DB2 and I did, he really couldn't cry "foul".

My mom did the same with my DB2 and I. Our b-days fell only four days apart (different years, of course! ) but she made two cakes and we had two seperate b-day celebrations. She did not think it was fair to combine the two just because our b-days were so close.

That's nice, I wish my mom did that. DB's bday is 2 days before mine and my mom's is 5 days after mine so we shared one cake. I never felt that my birthday was special. That's one reason why I'm making sure DS doesn't get overlooked for his (at least by us).

 

[louey]

Well my birthday is Christmas Eve, and I have to say I really hate it!!!! It seems since I host Xmas Dinner I always spend my birthday cleaning the house, shopping for last minute things. Not many if any restaurants are open and everyone is always understandibly busy
I tried changing it to August 24th but that didn't work, although my one good friend always still sends me a birthday card in August!!!!
I don't think I minded as much when I was younger but as I got older it seemed to get worse hmmmmm that could be because I Am Getting Older drats........
Happy Birthday to all who Celebrate with me in the month of December

 

[Bren's Mom]

My birthday is today!

My mom always celebrated my birthday the first weekend in December. Generally my friends party was Friday night or Saturday, family was on Sunday. Until my parties were over not a single Christmas light or decoration could go up in our house. And if you showed up with my birthday gift in Christmas wrap you were directed to the gift wrapping station in the basement where birthday wrap was available for your use. Mom was VERY serious about my birthday NOT getting caught up in Christmas!

There were a couple years where I wanted to do a warm weather activity and those years I was allowed to delay my friends party to June. (1/2 b-day)

 

[Zandy595]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREN'S MOM!!!


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34733058#post34733058

 

[Bren's Mom]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREN'S MOM!!!

Thanks!

All I want for my birthday is a tag...that's it...I've never had one...I've been around a long time and that space under my name is so lonely!

 

[AristocatFan]

Anything special done? Nope. Usually got the combo birthday/Christmas gift and my 17th everyone forgot due to being busy. (well, except mom of course) Now I'm old enough that I could care less about birthdays. But I do have a wonderful DH who always makes me feel special!

Sounds like you're doing a great job keeping your daughters birthday and the holiday separated!

 

[purpletiger]

My DM, DMiL, and I have birthdays in December and January. Here's what we do:

• 
  [*]Never give a combination gift.
  [*]Never give a Christmas-themed birthday present.
  [*]Never wrap the birthday gift in Christmas paper.
  [*]Always acknowledge the birthday in a special way.

My birthday is after Christmas, so when I was younger I always received really good toy gifts. I'm sure it was because everything was on sale the day after Christmas.

My birthday is December 11th and I hated it. I too recommend what HsvTeacher recommended. But my biggest pet peeves are the wrapping paper and combo gift.

 

[mousesweetie]

My bday is Dec 20 and the only rules for me is to acknowledge my birthday and DO NOT give me a combo bday/xmas gift. I tell everyone if they are going to be giving me a combo present expect the same no matter what time of the year their bday is! lol

 

[Chicago526]

That's nice, I wish my mom did that. DB's bday is 2 days before mine and my mom's is 5 days after mine so we shared one cake. I never felt that my birthday was special. That's one reason why I'm making sure DS doesn't get overlooked for his (at least by us).

Weeelll...Mom also really liked eating cake!

She's the one that kind of got ripped off. Her b-day was in betwen my brother's and mine, no way could we do three cakes so while we DID do presents and sang Happy B-day to her after dinner, she didn't get her own cake. But their wedding aniversary was earlier in the month, plus this all takes place in May so she also got mother's day...so I think on balance she made out okay for the month!

 

[Darcy03231]

I have a question for those of you that don't want a combo gift. What if its a really expensive gift and the only way to get what you want is to combine the gift? When DS was 14 all he wanted was a laptop. I don't spend that much at Christmas or at birthdays, but I could get it if I combined his birthday and Christmas gifts (his birthday is in Oct). We talked about it and he said he was ok with waiting until Christmas and getting just the laptop as that's all he wanted. He never acted at upset and was thrilled to get the laptop on Christmas Day.

 

[JayhawkMomma]

Our youngest will be 3 on the 27th. So far we've tried really hard to make sure he gets a party (usually early in January because it's just too hard to get people rounded up that close to Christmas), separate presents, etc. It helps that my husband's birthday is on the 11th so they'll always have each other to grumble with about December birthdays.

 

[castmemberb4]

My sister's birthday is December 27th. My mom opted to have her party with her friends in June each year. This made it completely separate from the holiday. It also made it so that she was able to get stuff for her birthday that could be used right away, like a bike, pool toys, etc. (we live in New England).

My Birthday is Dec 10th and I started doing this for myself a couple of years ago, It's so hard to get people together for a Dec Birthday that I chose June 10 and throw myself a party close to that date my family and close friends give me presents then and are never allowed to give me presents in Dec. DH and I always go away for the weekend closest to my Dec Birthday so we get to experience Christmas decorations in different towns.

 

[dnoyes]

I have a question for those of you that don't want a combo gift. What if its a really expensive gift and the only way to get what you want is to combine the gift? When DS was 14 all he wanted was a laptop. I don't spend that much at Christmas or at birthdays, but I could get it if I combined his birthday and Christmas gifts (his birthday is in Oct). We talked about it and he said he was ok with waiting until Christmas and getting just the laptop as that's all he wanted. He never acted at upset and was thrilled to get the laptop on Christmas Day.

I would have no problem with that and I'm a December baby also.

December is birthday MONTH in our family.

7th my SIL (wifes sister)
8th is my uncles
9th my dads
10 is BIL
14th is mine
24th my MIL
29th another SIL (brothers wife)
31st yet another SIL (wifes youngest sister)

We just have one big party in the first week of the month. Also we have another B-day Jan. 2nd. AND both my daughters are in late November.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

December 19th baby, here. My mom always threw my party before school was out for Christmas. I had one with friends, one with family and a sleepover with two or three close friends.

I did get the "slash" gift, but never from family. I still get those, and I do the same to those who do it to me no matter when their birthdays are.

I also got a 1/2 birthday (June 19th) party in the summer. It was usually a few friends over for a camp out or a night at the movies. Gifts weren't expected, but I did get some funny "half" gifts from family.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I have a question for those of you that don't want a combo gift. What if its a really expensive gift and the only way to get what you want is to combine the gift? When DS was 14 all he wanted was a laptop. I don't spend that much at Christmas or at birthdays, but I could get it if I combined his birthday and Christmas gifts (his birthday is in Oct). We talked about it and he said he was ok with waiting until Christmas and getting just the laptop as that's all he wanted. He never acted at upset and was thrilled to get the laptop on Christmas Day.

That was never an issue with friends, as they typically don't give expensive gifts. My family gets several gifts for the birthday person and several Christmas gifts, so there was never a time I had to go without if I wanted a "big" gift. I'd just get smaller gifts (say, $50 gift cards, DVDs, clothes) for one and the bigger gift (expensive electronics, trips) and a few trinkets for the other.

However, if one can't afford to do that, going the route you did is great! As long as the person knows it's one "big gift" or two "little gifts," it's good. Just don't give me a chocolate Santa and say "Merry Birthday!"

 

[Mandychelle79]

My birthdays the 14th and growing up:

NO tree till after my birthday
No combo gifts


I also had to share with hunting season @@

Didnt bother me as a kid, does as an adult as we go out with friends on our birthdays and I always get forgotten or skipped or they have work parties that weekend. Oh and last year my dh's gma passed on my birthday.

 

[dbogen]

My DS is 17 today. When he was younger we always did the half birthday in June with his friends. Like others have said, it breaks up the gifts, he didn't get evgerything at once. Now that he is older I leave it up to him.

We still have the family over for cake the weekend before his birthday and they are all really good about making sure things are in birthday paper. So far I don't think he has gotten a combined gift.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have a question for those of you that don't want a combo gift. What if its a really expensive gift and the only way to get what you want is to combine the gift? When DS was 14 all he wanted was a laptop. I don't spend that much at Christmas or at birthdays, but I could get it if I combined his birthday and Christmas gifts (his birthday is in Oct). We talked about it and he said he was ok with waiting until Christmas and getting just the laptop as that's all he wanted. He never acted at upset and was thrilled to get the laptop on Christmas Day.

If it was discussed before hand then it's fine, your DS had a choice in the matter and he chose to wait for the big gift. Not a problem. Too many people say "here's your bday/xmas gift" and it's a book, or a movie, or some Lego's or something else inexpensive, that doesn't fly in our house. Like the OP's DD (and in fact this is how she and I know each other and are good buddies) my youngest turned 10 a week ago today, Dec 15th. We let her chose when we decorate for Christmas, sometimes we do it before her bday, sometimes after but it's always her choice. We make sure she gets the same thing we all get, dinner out at a restaurant of our choice the night of our bday, this year we also all got trips to DL for our bdays. She gets the same value of gifts that her sister who was born in July gets and the same value of gifts that her sister gets on Christmas. Her bday is all about her, she gets a party, she gets a birthday cake, she gets gifts wrapped in birthday paper from most people, some people slip them in wrapped in Christmas paper but I do my best to make sure she knows her big day is not second to Christmas. I try not to do combo gifts for her or for DBF, his bday is Jan 7th, but this year for him I did a combo, he will get it Christmas morning but I got him an I Touch with accessories so he will not have a problem with that type of combo gift. LOL

Everything bday in our house is near a holiday tho, DBF is Jan 7th, DD21 is Feb 16, mine is May 25th, DD13 is July 8th, DD10 is Dec 15th, DD21s DBF is July 15th and my DGD's is Feb 22nd.

 

[Karibeth19]

Another December 19th baby here! I am an only child, and my parents were always very good about making sure my birthday was kept separate from Christmas. Although, I love Christmas, so I really didn't mind if my presents were wrapped in Christmas paper, or if my cake was red and green, or especially if we did something "Christmas-y", like go to the Nutcracker. The only thing that bothered me was the combo gift from extended family or friends. I mean, really? Can I hand someone a gift for their July birthday and say, "This is your Christmas present, too."? I don't think so!!!!