birthday celebration as social norm?

[cowboyup]

Well, today I am___ again.

I do not say this for acknowledgement but was wondering if it is the social norm with your family and/or friends to celebrate your birthday?

I remember at work they were notorious for celebrating your b-day with song, cake, etc. then it was back to normal. I cringe at the thought now. But social convention dictated that I go along, all smiles, eh, it was nice.

My family never celebrated any holiday, let alone ones' birthday. In the view of my parents', it was stupid.
I always knew the Easter Bunny, Santa, the Tooth Fairy, etc. were all fake. My parents made that clear from day 1. I actually think it's healthy to spare the lies told to children. My bro and SIL do the same with their kids.

Just my humble opinion.

But on a good hearted gesture from my brother, he suggested we go out to eat tonight for my "b-day dinner"...

I am riddled with nerves about eating in public and am literally counting down the hours til I have to go. I am shaky, nervous, and the thought of food is not setting well on my tummy!
Oh, how I wish I could get out of this monstrosity. I have homework to do, for crying out loud! lol. But I know I will have to put on a happy face, suck it up and just go because it was a nice gesture and besides, free food, yay!

Stupid thinking though, right? Well, I just was brought up to think that one's b-day is just another day, nothing more, nothing less. My brother, obviously, did as well, but since has ??? whatever you want to call it, IDK.

anyhow, just an odd daily observance according to me...

and so it goes.

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

I've never had a birthday party and wasn't invited to any, either.
My dad likes to give me an instrument around my birthday every year-- mom likes an excuse to buy a cake.
As a child, she always bought ice cream cakes although I didn't like them.
So I started making my own cake at home to prevent her from going out and buying a gross cake for me later that day.

We do like to eat cake for no reason too, though.
Mom might try to throw a candle on there to make it into a 'birthday cake' but that's about it.
I normally worked on my birthday after school/ came home and made a cake/ate dinner/ate cake/did homework/went to bed. Happy birthday.


I think in most families, it's considered 'social norm' to have some sort of birthday celebration with presents.
We just never did it because we didn't have the money to even if we wanted to and it didn't really matter.

 

[cowboyup]

I've never had a birthday party and wasn't invited to any, either.
My dad likes to give me an instrument around my birthday every year-- mom likes an excuse to buy a cake.
As a child, she always bought ice cream cakes although I didn't like them.
So I started making my own cake at home to prevent her from going out and buying a gross cake for me later that day.

We do like to eat cake for no reason too, though.
Mom might try to throw a candle on there to make it into a 'birthday cake' but that's about it.
I normally worked on my birthday after school/ came home and made a cake/ate dinner/ate cake/did homework/went to bed. Happy birthday.


I think in most families, it's considered 'social norm' to have some sort of birthday celebration with presents.
We just never did it because we didn't have the money to even if we wanted to and it didn't really matter.

^ thanks, Weirdy
Sounds like your family and mine would get along well

perhaps it's just relative to family and what they perceive/think how a b-day should go down and not necessarily the social norm. Of course, here in the US, I suppose we tend to celebrate a lot, at least that is what I was told from someone I know who lives in the UK and another in AUS.

 

[HappySquidward]

My family celebrates birthdays, but it's nothing special. We just get a cake and few presents, only my immediate family is there so I wouldn't call it a party. Anyway, have a happy birthday and I hope you don't have sit through one of those awful birthday songs

 

[MikeyC]

Nothing wrong with celebrating a birthday, but if you don't want to go out and eat, don't.

In a sense, your birthday is just another day. It all depends on the way you were raised and how much importance is placed on your birthday. Once you start making your own decisions in life, you can then control how much importance you want on it. A friend of mine will never tell me his birthday because he doesn't want me to "bother" him on the day.

Happy birthday.

 

[Facethefear]

I always knew the Easter Bunny, Santa, the Tooth Fairy, etc. were all fake. My parents made that clear from day 1. I actually think it's healthy to spare the lies told to children.

I never trusted my parent's again after the Santa revelation.

I am riddled with nerves about eating in public and am literally counting down the hours til I have to go. I am shaky, nervous, and the thought of food is not setting well on my tummy!

I was like that. I always had to drink before I went out to a restaurant. It was never a pleasure. Take out or a food delivery with a store bought cake is a better option for us sensitive souls. Just tell them with the new baby, it would be easier for all concerned to stay home. Happy 39th Birthday.

 

[JuiceB]

Happy Birthday Cowboyup.

A friend of mine will never tell me his birthday because he doesn't want me to "bother" him on the day.

Truthfully, I don't wanna be bothered either but I guess it really do depends on the person.

 

[MikeyC]

Truthfully, I don't wanna be bothered either but I guess it really do depends on the person.

Yeah, I understand that. I'm not going to press him on the issue and I understand he wants to be left to his own devices. I guess I'm more or less becoming the same way.

 

[Dinosaur]

Happy birthday


i didnt even get a phone call from any of my family on my 40th but i guess thats my fault coz of the way i am...Instead i took up lawn bowls on my bithday....Best move i've made for a long time!!! lol

 

[cowboyup]

many thanks to all.
well, we ended up going out to Buca Di Beppo...
alright, fine..it was nice. there
it was quiet, the restaurant was not crowded thank goodness. We got a corner booth so I could do my sinking in the corner booth thing, lol.
so all's well that ends well, and here's to another year!

darn, where were these guys?

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[WeirdyMcGee]

many thanks to all.
well, we ended up going out to Buca Di Beppo...
alright, fine..it was nice. there

A strange name... I know Buca Di Beppo from the Shaytards. haha
Happy (late?) birthday, cowboyup!

 

[cowboyup]

A strange name... I know Buca Di Beppo from the Shaytards. haha
Happy (late?) birthday, cowboyup!

LOL, yup! thanks, Weirdy