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Is acknowledging a birthday important

(108 Posts)
kitchen Tue 25-Sept-12 08:28:57

As I get older a birthday card from those I love seems to mean so much more. Is this a strange reaction? I am close to both my sons and the younger one is so kind and thoughtful. My eldest son leads a very busy life job wise but seems to forget the little things that mean a lot. I child mind every week and help his wife a lot but she could not even wish me a happy birthday let alone organise anything. A home made card from the children or a telephone call from them encouraged by their parents would have meant so much. I just wish I could understand my daughter in law more. Her family are all widespread so contact is not as regular but she makes so much of them which is understandable. Always polite she continues to have an air of coldness and I cannot get beyond that. On any occasion her attitude seems to be that they are her husband's parents not hers. I love the grandchildren dearly and would not wish to cause any rift but yearn for some understanding.

Mamie Thu 27-Sept-12 07:19:02

Even Google has got a birthday cake!

Butternut Thu 27-Sept-12 07:17:50

Happy Birthday, and wishing you many happy returns Greatnan. Hope you have a wonderful day with lots of messages from your big family. sunshine

Mamie Thu 27-Sept-12 07:07:01

Happy Birtday Greatnan (and to my DS because they don't take much notice of birthdays in Spain.)

Greatnan Wed 26-Sept-12 21:06:23

Thank you nellie - two hours to go!

Littlenellie Wed 26-Sept-12 21:04:13

janeainsworth a very happy birthday to you flowers wine cupcake
greatnan must be time in France to wish you a happy birthday lots of love nelliexxxxxflowers wine _cupcake

dorsetpennt Wed 26-Sept-12 20:43:12

My lovely DIL is the the sender [and now signer] of all cards and gifts. It was the same with my parents and my grandparents. It's just the way of things, I think signing and sending cards [except for wife/girlfriend] just doesn't come into a man's mind. Not being sexist but men do not think of the minutia of life.

Greatnan Wed 26-Sept-12 20:41:33

Aw.....I have just had several loving pm's on Facebook from assorted grandchildren. It is my birthday already in NZ! I expect their mum reminded them!

annodomini Wed 26-Sept-12 19:24:10

I gave up having parties for the DSs after DS2's 7th. I had never heard such a racket and, it being January, I couldn't really throw them out into the garden. But we always marked their birthdays with a treat of some kind - and a cake of course.

Greatnan Wed 26-Sept-12 18:45:03

I made sure my daughters had a party on every birthday and good presents - I never had a party because of war-time rationing and my mother's lack of imagination. (Other mothers seemed to manage to cobble together some little tea party.) I don't remember ever getting a gift or card until my sister, who is 4 years older, bought me some crayons and made me a card when she was 14. No wonder I love her so much.

I turned 63 at midnight on the night my daughter came close to death, so the day does not hold the best of memories for me.

helshea Wed 26-Sept-12 18:38:01

I would say that when sons marry its still their mother who has to at least remind them of birthdays and cards etc. I'm 52 and for some of my relatives my mum still buys me a card and just sends it down to mine for me to sign.... I know sad or what? lol

Ella46 Wed 26-Sept-12 18:22:38

jane that's a very talented 20 month dgd you've got there grin

soop Wed 26-Sept-12 18:15:05

janeaninsworth Happy celebrations! flowers

janeainsworth Wed 26-Sept-12 18:06:58

Thanks all for your kind thoughts - had lovely phone calls from my son in the States, my 20 month old DGD in Stafford, and my 90 year-old godfather in Macclesfield, so yes it's nice to be acknowledged smile

petra Wed 26-Sept-12 16:49:12

I might sound a bit odd, but I don't take any notice of anyone's birthday, least of all my own. My DD loves them and last year I told her that that was the last one I would recognise. But she still had to do something.

Mamie Wed 26-Sept-12 16:39:53

My son's birthday tomorrow too, Greatnan. The last one I spent with him was his twenty-first, twenty years ago. Oh dear, how time flies.
Of course if you are on Facebook, everyone gets a reminder.

soop Wed 26-Sept-12 16:31:24

Nellie Your birthday matters and us lot will not forget you. A well chosen card with a sincere message is priceless. Being overlooked or forgotten is miserable and unforgiveable. (((hugs)))

jeni Wed 26-Sept-12 16:17:28

hmm

Frankel Wed 26-Sept-12 16:16:57

A card is nice - no card is terrible! sad

Butternut Wed 26-Sept-12 16:12:01

ana No, No - this was just a couple of weeks ago - I am VERY hopeful smile + hmm

Ana Wed 26-Sept-12 15:51:16

Working on 'Tech', at any rate...grin

Ana Wed 26-Sept-12 15:50:46

Butter, they've been 'working on it' for months and months.....confused

glassortwo Wed 26-Sept-12 15:46:16

It was a big cake grin

jeni Wed 26-Sept-12 14:04:49

And how long ago was that?[huffy] emoticon!

Butternut Wed 26-Sept-12 13:49:49

Jeni - I've been very reliably informed from GNHQ that tech are WORKING ON IT! grin - I sent [cake] to hurry it along thank them.

jeni Wed 26-Sept-12 13:29:24

Should be first please!