Does it bother you if people forget your birthday?

anotherginger

it doesn't bother me in the slightest. i only expect a pressie from my OH.

i've got a friend who has to make a big thing out of her birthday every year...i think she forgets that everyone has a birthday. to be honest, it makes people less keen to do something on her birthday because of all the fuss she expects.

poet123

Yes, I would be upset, and a bit hurt, because I always remember birthdays. Fortunately, all my friends and family are the same, so no one has actually forgotten my birthday, except once when my SIL forgot, childishly,:o I "forgot" hers later in the year....she has never forgotten again!!

foreign_correspondent

I was really upset when my mum forgot my birthday - I was 13 at the time...

However, now, no - it's nice if immediate family remember, but I don't expect anything. I don't always rememvber friends, but then again they dont always remember mine, so its no big deal...!

Filey

For goodness sake you got 6 gifts! I think perhaps you are getting things a bit out of perspective. For myself, if someone remembers my birthday that's nice, but if they don't it's no big deal.

Chinkle

People have busy lives, if you are the sort who wants lots of attention on your birthday, make lots of noise about it in the weeks leading up to it and organise an event/party yourself and invite everyone. Most people will then bring a card or, if you're lucky a gift. If not just be glad they turned up to enjoy it with you.

ThursdayNext_2

I had this problem with my ex-housemate (whilst we lived together). He had his birthday, I came home from placement mid-week to go to his birthday party, got him a card and a present (about £10), and made him a cake.

A couple of months later, it's my birthday, and what do I get? Nothing. Not even a happy birthday. It was a miserable birthday in the middle of my exams, and a card would have cheered me up no end. He definitely knew it was my birthday as well, cos he asked about a meal I'd invited him to on facebook (that I then had to cancel cos no one could come). Just rude!

</sob story>

notsayingaword

Yes, I would be upset if I didn't get an acknowledgement on my birthday. In fact it was my birthday yesterday and I was happy (and lucky enough) to get lots of facebook messages as well as plenty of cards. My DH had to leave very early for work but he left me a bunch of flowers which was lovely as he must have bought them the night before and hidden them in his car overnight!

For my 40th a couple of years ago, I was gutted when my oldest brother didn't send me a card as he was on holiday, I didn't even get a belated wish at a later date. Another brother emailed me saying happy birthday and asked for my address so that he could send me a card - I never did recieve it and was miffed that he couldn't be bothered, I'd rather he hadn't even mentioned it. I did ask him where it was and he kept saying "oh I will post it"!

I get one special day a year which is just mine. I don't need cards or gifts but I don't want to be ignored or have false promises.

bylromarha

No - I dread to think how many I've forgotten myself...

gabyjane

Hmm mixed reviews!! I think some of you think i expect a huge fuss making and i don't..i got a text off someone and it was so nice to know they had thought of me and i'm happy with that!. I just think its a sign of how you have done in how ever many years in terms of friends/people caring and is quite sad! my friend for example spent weeks arranging another friends birthday..travelling away, hotels booked blah blah cost a fortune, of course i politely declined and never went..when it came to mine she couldn't come but did say she really wished she could etc..in the end we paid for her and took her out for dinner with us..this year nothing. Hey ho i had a really nice time tonight with my family and i guess thats all that matters at the end of the day!

SandC

It's a strange one. I certainly don't do fuss like a lot of people I know, but I would be a bit miffed if I didn't get cards or at least a text off friends.

I have a friend who I keep in touch with from school days. I left where we lived at age 10 and I am now 39, she is 40. I have seen her once since then, when we were about 24/25. She never forgets my birthday. Yet people close to me frequently do.

I always remember other people's. But then again I really don't want a fuss, so maybe something in between.

I was let down by friends on both my 21st and 30th birthdays but luckily each time I had other pals to lean on. My 40th is now approaching and I won't be let down because I've booked a holiday of a lifetime for myself and won't be doing any celebrating.

My boss at work never gets me a pressie because he forgets every year. Sorry, I know I'm his PA but I draw the line at putting my own birthday in his diary! Then when I come round with cakes or chocs on the day he realises again that he forgot. I just find that amusing.

What I do miss is that a group of gal pals and me always used to go out for each other's birthdays. That rarely happens any more. Fellas and families have got in the way. It's not so much the birthday issue that bothers me, it's that none of them care enough to commit themselves to seeing their pals on those few occasions over the year. I always think each month of who has a birthday and remember that they might be organising a night out around the date - but these days it just isn't happening.