It all began when I was about 10. I made my own birthday cake {this piano one} and declared that there was to be no fuss, no singing and no party nonsense. I don’t know what my parents must have thought, but they went along with it. Of course I didn’t forgo the presents, just the celebrations and fuss.
Each year I go through a mixed bag of emotions as June rolls around. I end up organising a birthday party or some sort of celebration, because it feels like the right thing to do… but when it happens I hate the fuss and the attention and can’t wait for it to be over.
My birthday is next week and already I’ve had a handful of phone calls asking how I’ll be celebrating. Last year I turned 30 and we spent the day boating in Noosa and at 8pm that night I was up to my eyeballs in vomit {Lacey’s not mine}, which was quite the anti-climax. This year I don’t want to do anything. I just want it to pass by. Please.
I was enjoying my early morning trashy TV adventures {there’s nothing like waking early and sneaking in some uninterrupted trash} when I realised I wasn’t alone. Not as in there was someone else in the room, but there was at least one other person that felt the same about birthdays that I did. That person was Bethenny, from Bethenny Ever After. She was celebrating her 40th birthday and she couldn’t put her finger on her emotions but it was just awkward. She said to her Hubby that she didn’t want a party, but if he’d let her birthday pass by without a mere mention she would have hated it as well.
So I’m saying to everyone now that I want to let my birthday pass by, but I know on the day that I won’t want a huge fuss… but I’ll miss the fuss a little if it doesn’t happen. I don’t want a party, or even a special dinner… I just want to acknowledge that I’m a year older {open up a few presents!}… and let the day roll into the next.
Do you like to celebrate big for your birthdays? Or do you like to let them slide on by?
I'm happy to let my own birthday pass by — I share it with my mother-in-law, who sadly passed away last year, so I don't feel it's appropriate to make a huge fuss about my birthday. Yet I LOVE celebrating that of others, and I do make a big deal about theirs.
I hope you get your happy medium on your day; and you know, everyone deserves to be a little fussed over 😉 Xx
I love to make a big deal about my birthday. I hate having to do it myself, however. I'm all about surprise parties. I get a little sad when I have a low key day. My husband on the other hand, is the same as you. He doesn't want a fuss. I have a hard time grasping that, but his birthday in September and I plan on respecting his request.
Hi Chantelle,
Love reading your personal posts lately :-). I am an absolute Birthday person ;-). I don't mind getting older at all, and I just love the fuss. I'm not getting enough though myself ;-). That may be the reason that I get so much into our children's birthdays ;-). I want them to have the perfect day, even better than they have imagined it, if possible. I'm having so much fun organizing the circus party for our now 6 year old in 2 days. Have a wonderful day – maks 🙂
I do understand. I dont ever want a massive affair, I had no 18, 21, 30th.
But I'd like to do something, that someone else organises. You know friends call up and demand they are taking you out to lunch, that sort of thing. My b'day is the first week of Jan, so it has always been pretty much no existant. So somewhere in between would be nice.
Hi Chantelle, it is my birthday as well next week, Tuesday actually! I am having a few casual affairs, nothing big, just a few nice dinners one with family, one with friends and a day out in the city with my Mum, PERFECT! I will be making my own dinner that evening and my own cake, well actually its peanut butter ice cream with caramelised popcorn!!!!! So I am celebrating my way, nothing huge.. nothing OTT, just nice!
Happy Birthday in advance to you… I hope you find your perfect way to celebrate! Love Claire x
My hubby is exactly the same – he wants his birthday observed, just not all the in-your-face-celebration. It took me a few years to respect his wishes (because I'm an entertainer by nature!) but now I'm getting older I'm understanding it more. My 40th is next month and whilst I have no issue with the number – in fact I think I should celebrate it, I just can't be bothered organising anything and hubby's not the birthday type – so it will probably pass with the minimum of fuss – and I think I'm OK with it.
my birthday never used to bother me until my dad died the day after my 29th birthday 3 years ago. ever since then, when my birthday rolls round, i want to look forward to it, to enjoy it but i never do.
it's my birthday next week as well [towards the end of the week] and at this moment in time, i just want it over and done with.
i hope the day goes as YOU wish it to go Telle and that you have a lovely day.
~x~
Oh this post is me to a tee! I don't want a fuss, but if my birthday passes with something to mark it I get sad.
For the past few years, I have done something simple like just have a nice dinner out with hubs or a couple of close friends. Go somewhere that I love. But there doesn't have to be too many bells or whistles.
I hope you have a lovely day, whatever you decide to do.
Love birthdays!. I think with so much sadness and horrible things that happen in the world it is something we can celebrate. My mum was ran over by a car and lived . Had lots injuries & months of rehub. l gave her a big surprise 70th ( family came from a far) and she absolutely loved it!!!!. We should be thank-full we have lived another birthday and be grateful for what we have. Celebrate life's to short!!!!
Bit of both as well, hate the huge fuss but do like to pick a little pressie out or have some time to myself x x : )
HERE! HERE! I always always always end up working way too hard on my birthday. Next year – I am letting it pass me by…. But, the money I would have spent on feeding the 20 people in my family – I would like to be able to wear on my feet or hanging from my ears.
i don't celebrate that big, but i absolutely celebrate my birthday, complete with choosing my birthday cake and wearing a pretty dress. i really feel it as a joyous occasion & it really is something to celebrate. in my opinion, to be a grouch on your birthday because you are another year older is actually being ungrateful… a bit off topic, but just saying. as far as not wanting to have a huge celebration, that's normal but definitely make it a special day. xx
i adore birthdays but quiet celebration is most definitely my preference. I'm not into fuss at all. I so hope you get the acknowledgment your after – and quite a few lovely gifts x
No fuss here… just a few presents first thing and a cup of tea. I am, however, planning a trip to France for my fortieth so I'm happy to let the birthdays between now and then just slip by. gxo
Hon, I wrote a post about this once “The Birthday Blues” or something like that, because my friend is the same. She just does not like celebrating her birthday at all.
Me? I'm all over it. I LOVE celebrating my birthday, and I'm rather put out if people don't treat it as a big thing. Ha ha….there's evidence of a spoilt little girl right there…!
Here's how I think about it: One day, God willing, you'll be 80 and wish you were 30 again. Enjoy. Embrace it! It's a celebration of life. We're all lucky to be here, I reckon.
But I absolutely get where you're coming from. Birthday celebrations aren't for everyone.
xxx
I hate them, I like organising them but when the day comes I want to cry.
22 next friday & am all ready dreading it.
I have no idea how I'll be when I get older.
But I love others birthdays Like Bella's I love her excitement.
I love birthdays. They're one of my favourite things. It doesn't matter if it's my birthday, or somebody else's – I love them!
I share my birthday with my father who passed away 16 years ago. My husband's family don't do birthdays, so my husband can not understand why I make a big deal over mine. For me it is a time I get to celebrate my father and his love. He may not be with us, but I want my family to remember what a great man he was by celebrating OUR birthday
Chantelle I can really understand what you're saying here. It's exactly how I feel about birthdays. Most years I do try to let them slide by, without a big fuss and the years where I have organised something, I have done it for the benefit of others… just so they didn't hassle me or so I didn't seem 'strange' not wanting to celebrate my birthday. The truth is, I couldn't care less. If everyone forgot and didn't say Happy Birthday, I'd probably be a bit upset, but as for the dinners, parties, presents… could not give a damn! I actually enjoy other people's birthday's more than mine. I love buying pressies and especially love being involved in baking or preparing a party. I hope your birthday this year is everything you wish for or don't wish for, as the case may be… and no vomit this year! ;o) xo
I know what you mean. I used to adore celebrating my birthday when I was little (and had that same piano cake one year!). I would try to make it go for as long as possible.
Then a few years ago my grandmother passed away a few days before my birthday which dampened any celebrations. Then a couple of years later, my grandfather passed away a few days before it again. I feel I'm a little jinxed when it comes to birthdays and they are always an anticlimax.
I hope to maybe make a fuss of my 30th birthday, but maybe I'll let it pass by too just in case something bad happens. 🙂 xx
Oh Chantelle, ya gotta go large on your birthday! It's your big day to be spoiled, reflective and loved. x
Welcome to 31! I hope you enjoy your day just a little bit xo
PS I don't want to enter your smitten giveaway because I just won one, but HOW GORGEOUS is the stuff! I've become instantly obsessed.
I wish people would make a fuss of my birthday. Its four days after Christmas and noone really remembers it. For that reason I hate it!
One word: celebrate! I'm in Sydney next week – what day is your big day?
Hey Hey 80's baby girl 🙂 We share the same birth Year and Sorry I can't do it….Happy Birthday for next week! I love to throw parties but tend to do it for others and not myself. My 30's was a bit of a fizzer but had a good 21st. My baby boy Aston turns 1 next week too. Xx
I absolutely love having birthdays. If they fall on a Friday. I have a birthday weekend extravaganza.
I don't mean a party, or presents, or any special dinner. I just like to say it.
I do like a phone call from the kids. But that is about it.
Not much of an extravaganza I just like to say the word.