What the heck is a "half birthday?"

[marcyinPA]

Lighten up? Sorry but I dont think its appropriate for you to tell me to lighten up when all im doing is stating my opinion. I think the whole thing is silly. Thats just how I feel. Those are my thoughts. Why do I have to lighten up? If others want to celebrate their half bday at school, more power to them. I dont have a problem with it. But i personally would never let my DS celebrate his half bday.

Because you seem to have an issue with something that does not affect you personally. What is it to you, really, if a parent sends cupcakes to school in January because their kid's birthday is in July? I stand by what I said. You (general you- those of you who have a problem with half birthdays) need to lighten up a little!

 

[jrmasm]

It's easy to say that you wouldn't let him celebrate a half birthday when he was able to celebrate his own real birthday at school.

My birthday was never celebrated at school (having your name read on the annoucements).

My oldest daughter's birthday was never celebrated at school.

If one of her teachers had a day for summer birthdays to be celebrated, she would have been allowed to participate but never in a million years would I ask or suggest a half birthday celebration.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I have a Dec 30 birthday and my mom always asked me (when I was a kid a LOOONNNGGG time ago), if I wanted to celebrate my birthday in the summer. Having a birthday on December 30 meant never having a "friend" party because most people were off celebrating Christmas. I never did it though--I was much too introverted!!

However, I don't think it's "snowflakey" if someone does it.

Now, if they are actually celebrating two birthdays a year, well, that's different.

We have the same birthday! I never had a "friend" party either, unless it was a shared party with my brother whose birthday was a month later. My DH's birthday is within a few days of my "half birthday" so we always joke that I should get a present for his birthday.

 

[robinb]

My birthday was never celebrated at school (having your name read on the annoucements).

My oldest daughter's birthday was never celebrated at school.

If one of her teachers had a day for summer birthdays to be celebrated, she would have been allowed to participate but never in a million years would I ask or suggest a half birthday celebration.

FTR, my DD's teacher suggested the half-birthday celebration when she was in Kindergarten.

 

[DarthMama]

Now my son is the eternal optimist! LOL. for the first 6 years of his life he swore all the lights and trees and party's in our family were because it was his birthday.

Your son sees it the right way! My birthday is on July 5, and I hope all Americans enjoy the annual fireworks for my birthday eve. You're welcome.

 

[Christine]

We have the same birthday! I never had a "friend" party either, unless it was a shared party with my brother whose birthday was a month later. My DH's birthday is within a few days of my "half birthday" so we always joke that I should get a present for his birthday.

When thinking back to my childhood, I was never too concerned with the fact of not having a birthday "in school." In the 60s and 70s, I just don't even remember that being done anyway. Sure, we celebrated Valentine's Day and Halloween, but I just don't recall and in-school birthday with special things done.

I do remember at one point, being around 6-8 years old and living in an apartment complex with a fabulous pool and really fun lifeguards. The kids with the summer birthdays usually rented out the pool after hours and had this great pool party. I always wanted one of those but, eh, on December 30th, it's not happening. I think that's about the time my mother said "well, we could have your party on June 30th if want." I never did it but I don't think it was a foreign concept even back then.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Because you seem to have an issue with something that does not affect you personally. What is it to you, really, if a parent sends cupcakes to school in January because their kid's birthday is in July? I stand by what I said. You (general you- those of you who have a problem with half birthdays) need to lighten up a little!

I suggest you go back and read my posts again. I did say I dont have an issue with those who chose to celebrate it. Its a free country! I stated my personal opinion, which im entitled to. If my personal oppinion offends you, then im afraid I cant help you there.

 

[Fire14]

My lil bro got shaft in more ways than one. His bday is dec. 26th so he got bday gifts wrapped in bday paper but stored under tree b/c my mom couldn't keep track of stuff if she tried. And if he celebrates his half bday it conflicts with mine. My parents couldn't win for lose.

 

[jrmasm]

FTR, my DD's teacher suggested the half-birthday celebration when she was in Kindergarten.

But that's not how this thread started is it?

 

[Zooshoveller]

We "celebrate" unbirthdays! LOL

My dad started it years ago. On his birthday, after singing and candles, he said he would let us share his cake because it was our unbirthdays. The silly tradition stuck.

My sister and I are exactly 8.5 years apart and the birthday girl always tells the other "Happy 1/2 Birthday"

We are a silly family and none of these things are done in seriousness (or public!)

 

[MineMail]

Well, I always used to envy people with summer birthdays because they always had their birthday off and to me that was so cool.

Good point - I now take my birthday off from work each year, but I didn't have to do that for school.

 

[mytripsandraces]

I know some cultures celebrate half birthdays, but I only celebrate them for my 20+-year-old cat. Every milestone he reaches is a joy to me, especially after he suffered a stroke in March. He's fully recovered now, but that was a frightening week.

 

[Poohforyou]

My DD13 is a summer birthday but her 1/2 birthday doesn't exist (there is no February 31st ).

When she was in elementary school each teacher would do something different to allow summer birthday kids a chance to celebrate their birthdays in school. Sometimes they'd say on or around the 1/2 birthday and other times they'd say during a period of time when there weren't other birthdays.

Here in our community just about every elementary aged kid brings a treat into school to celebrate his/her birthday. Birthdays are announced during morning announcements and summer birthdays are announced during the last day of school. As a little kid it's hard not being able to do what your friends do and have a little special attention so I was glad our school was so accommodating towards summer birthdays.

As for an actual party, that always happens around DD's actual birthday. As a parent I like that my child has a summer birthday. I eliminates the big party issues with inviting the entire class. DD's parties have always just been 6-8 good friends from school and our neighborhood.

 

[goofy4tink]

My birthday is in late July....I never had any kind of celebration during the school year. Those with summer birthdays usually felt it was better that way since you could have a big outdoors party for your birthday.
My dd's birthday is in late July as well. She never said she felt badly that she didn't get to have cupcakes in school!
I do have a good friend, made right here on the DIS, who's birthday is exactly 6 months from mine. We always wish each other happy 1/2 birthday on our own birthdays, but that's the only time I even think about a half birthday.

Once you start allowing half birthdays to be brought into the classroom, every single child is going to want one..otherwise, someone is going to feel left out. And heaven forbid some child not get exactly what other kids are getting.

 

[robinb]

Once you start allowing half birthdays to be brought into the classroom, every single child is going to want one..otherwise, someone is going to feel left out. And heaven forbid some child not get exactly what other kids are getting.

So exactly what is wrong with that for kids in the lower grades?

 

[Poohforyou]

Once you start allowing half birthdays to be brought into the classroom, every single child is going to want one..otherwise, someone is going to feel left out. And heaven forbid some child not get exactly what other kids are getting.

Really, you can't see the difference between a child with a birthday outside the school year celebrating it at some point during the school year and every child getting a full and 1/2 year celebration ?

If kids should only celebrate their birthdays on the actual day than that leaves out any kid who's birthday falls on a weekend or a school holiday other than summer. No pushing that birthday to Friday or Monday or before/after spring break.

Tough luck kids, if your birthday isn't on one of the 180+ days we're actually in the school building no cake for you!!

 

[moorhunhe]

I don't really understand this.

I see people writing things like "we are going to disneyland for our 12,5 years of marriage".

Why not wait untill you can actually celebrate the full 13 years?

Not to offend anyone, don't get me wrong, but I'm not one of those half-celebrating people, hehe.
Needs to be a full year for me!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Once you start allowing half birthdays to be brought into the classroom, every single child is going to want one..otherwise, someone is going to feel left out. And heaven forbid some child not get exactly what other kids are getting.

YES exactly.

 

[HelenePA]

I don't really understand this.

I see people writing things like "we are going to disneyland for our 12,5 years of marriage".

Why not wait untill you can actually celebrate the full 13 years?

Not to offend anyone, don't get me wrong, but I'm not one of those half-celebrating people, hehe.
Needs to be a full year for me!

what if the couple can't get off work then? or it falls close to a holiday which means much higher prices and no discount?

 

[sookie]

I have a student telling me all last week her "half birthday" is coming up. I smiled and said things like, "That's nice..." with about the same amount of attention I pay when children tell me about how their mommy shaves her big toe (and, yes, they tell us those things! Lol). Then mom comes in and asks if she can bring in cupcakes cut in half for the half birthday. When I said "no" mom then asked if I could hand out the half birthday invitations... When did this get to be a thing?! Since when do we have a formal celebration for being half a year older??

We usually do early birthday parties for my son who has his birthday mid-summer. We like to invite his whole class. But if we did a half-birthday it would be in December and that would tick a lot of people off. We usually do it about a month early (May) but we were unable to do it this year. We will just invite a few friends over for a party this time.