December birthdays are tired of the lame things people try to pull off. It seems like Christmas puts a stupor in the air and people forget how to celebrate a birthday in a normal way. Parents can have a rough time, too, according to this article on Parenting.com.
I mean, how hard is it to treat their birthdays like you would treat any other birthday?
These holiday babies share the worst ways to celebrate a birthday in December. So, do you pass or fail by their standards?
8. Christmas Leftovers… Really?
You might have zero creativity, but don’t make it blatantly obvious by wrapping up Christmas stuff and trying to pass it off as a birthday present.
My brother’s birthday is December 29th. He used to always joke that on his birthday he would get the shirt that went with the sweater he got at Christmas! Ha!
-Teresa from Mesa, AZ
7. I Know How Many Birthday Presents Everyone Else Gets
Christmas comes every year. So do birthdays. Both should be in the budget. And if you can’t afford to slam it all into one month, then it’s time to start your December shopping in January.
You don’t want to short-change her for her birthday just because you feel like its gift overload.
-Chad Fish
Just make sure that the presents don’t suffer because of how close it is to Christmas.
-E.H. Wayne
6. I Don’t Want A Rudolf Cake
People born in December want balloons and streamers, not elves and reindeer.
If it is customary to have a bunch of helium balloons, bring them to the party (and they better not be red and green!). Don’t try to ‘get away’ with sticking candles in a fruit cake or whatever other holiday pastry or dessert that’s lying around.
– Debbie
Just keep birthday traditions the same all year round.
5. Birthday Gifts Under The Tree… Bad Idea
The tree is reserved for Christmas gifts only. Birthday presents belong next to the cake and party balloons, just like everyone else’s birthday.
“We’re all sitting around the tree, still excited about the few presents that were left, only to find out they were for my birthday. I had to wait 3 more days before I could open them.”
– S. H.
“You have to make sure they’re labelled really well. Some years my parents couldn’t remember which present was which.”
– Debbie
4. Don’t Be Too Quick To Sympathize Or Cheer
December brings strong feelings about birthdays. Your safest bet is to ask how they feel about it before offering your own opinion.
“I would say not to tell them what an awful day or time of year to have a birthday – we didn’t choose it and we can’t change it.”
-Heather B.
“…have sympathy towards said person when you find out about the closeness of their birthday to Christmas. It means a whole lot more than you think, and don’t assume that this said person thinks it’s awesome.”
-Amanda
3. “Christmas Overshadows My Birthday Always” –S. H.
“When you have relatives who want to get a trip in before Christmas, and they come on your birthday… that big night out turns into entertaining the out-of-town guests.”
-A. Roberts
“Every year we would celebrate [my birthday] by going back to stores to return the stuff that didn’t fit or we didn’t want from Christmas. Every. Stinking. Year.”
-Amanda
One girl mentioned that her boyfriend went to a Christmas party with another girl on her birthday.
Ouch.
2. “Avoid The Combined Gift. Those Are Just Lame.” –Lisa F.
Just save yourself the headache and give 2 separate presents. It’s not worth your embarrassment or their resentment.
“It’s like having a birthday in September and saying ‘Here, I got you a gift for your birthday and it’s your Christmas present!’ Lame.”
-S. H.
“I rarely got a separate birthday and a Christmas present.”
-Amanda
“My husband thought that because Christmas and my birthday were so close, one gift for both would suffice. I told him that if he treated my birthday and Christmas as the same, then I would do that for his birthday… He realized that it was more advantageous to celebrate both days separately.”
-Tara C.
Realize that sometimes it is not the size of the gift, but the acknowledgment that you are special enough to not be overshadowed by the most celebrated holiday of the year.
-Tara C.
1. You Forgot Again?
Forgetting a birthday any time of year is lame, but in December it hurts worse.
“When someone would take the time to call me on Christmas to wish me happy birthday when I know they are having a busy day, that always meant a lot to me.”
-Lisa C.
“Just remember it…. A card, text, phone call, gift for a child, always goes a long way.”
-M. M.
In other words, treat their birthday as if it happened at any other time of the year. It’s no-brainer advice really, but everyone seems to lose their brain at Christmas.
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