Birthday Celebrations….what do you do

I’m always at work for my Birthday, unless it’s at the weekend, I don’t have to worry then.

I didn’t want any fuss at all for my last very big birthday, but was overridden by dds and dh, who organised a weekend long extended-family stay in a huge converted barn.
Having said I wanted no such thing, I did enjoy it.

For ‘ordinary’ birthdays, we just do relatively small presents and cards.
My son in law’s 50th is coming up - he’s certainly not looking forward to reaching his half century, but both he and dd are super-sociable so I dare say there will be a major ‘bash’ of some sort.
He’s a very good husband and father to Gdcs, so I’d like to give him something special but have no idea what. If I ask dd I know she’ll say not to bother! So would he, I’m sure, if I asked.

Hello, 👋 Witzend! Just a thought, I made my son a photo book for his 50th birthday and he was delighted with it. We used Printerpix, my sister helped me with uploading the photos, once I had organised them into decades/ chronological order.

If your DD can gather a good selection of photos - baby, school, 21st, graduation, engagement, wedding, birth of children, holidays, Christmases, pets, cars, homes, etc- you could maybe try that.

Just double check that his parents are not making him one ?

I would be upset if my sons forgot my birthday, but they never do - fingers crossed! My brother used to forget my mother’s regularly. That said, all I want is a card and maybe a small present. No fuss, and certainly no parties!

The last big celebration I had was over 20 yesars ago, for my 60th. My sons organised a trip to Paris. That was lovely, but now I would be too tired to benefit from anything like that. I just want to be remembered, but left in peace and quiet.

My birthday is 5 days before my husband's, and we always do something with the family - a meal out somewhere. Both sons get us presents (individual), and the grandchildren usually paint us a picture or make us cards. We go out for a meal for every family member's birthday

When my H was alive if I didn’t organise something, just usually a meal out, or a meal in which I cooked then nothing at all would happen ,even big birthdays.
He just wasn’t an occasion man.
Now my GD lives with me, she will organise a nice meal out, last year we went to the Ivy in Manchester with drinks first at 20 stories, a roof top bar 20 stories high, it was very special.
My D lives a long way from me and my S, just like his father, does nothing.
You get used to it after a while, doesn’t mean you don’t notice though.
A belated Happy birthday.

My adult children come round with their families after work to have a slice of birthday cake made by the oldest granddaughter. They bring small gifts and cards which the youngest grandchildren open together with any cards that come through the post. To see them all together for an hour is all I want.

I usually go to lunch with my husband. Our daughter, son in law, granddaughter, my sisters and their DHs usually visit the night before with gifts.

Same as you bytheway sort it myself, usually a family meal, MrJ does ask me for a list of gifts I’d like and gets me flowers. My daughter and grandchildren visit with cards and a small gift, she also nudges my son!

Keep my head down.

My eldest daughter arranged my sixtieth birthday. I was completely blown away! I was sitting with my class when the head walked in with her and told me I had the day off!

Lunch out with my OH usually and a family meal during the nearest weekend, sometimes at home, sometimes at a local pub. The meal takes a bit of arranging so everyone has an input for available dates, so no-one forgets! We do the same for my OH and AC's.
Only under 10s have a celebration on their actual birthday!

My DD's live hundreds of miles away so it is just DH and myself .Usually a good meal out on the nearest weekend. DD's do send presents and cards and I usually get a lovely bunch of Autumnal flowers I would not buy myself from DH.
My big one was during Covid so we went for a tour of the part of the country I had been brought up in with a picnic at the seaside.

My adult children always take me out somewhere special, so I don't have to arrange anything. I'm not a party person - too much noise and hard work too.

I think I would actually faint if my husband organised anything to do with birthdays or any event, come to that.

In 10 days we are going on the Northern Belle train for afternoon tea, which of course I booked. I could have gone to Spain for a week for what it’s cost but I have always fancied it. His birthday was July and mine is Oct so it’s to celebrate both.

All holidays I book, all days out, all meals out, everything. He enjoys whatever I plan when we actually go but always says he has too many jobs to do at home to even think about going.

I would be mortified if a surprise birthday bash was arranged for me, could not think of anything worse. I certainly don't like a fuss or to be the centre of attention. Much happier with something more low key like a meal in a lovely restaurant or Mr J and I going away for a few days. Happy for those who want a big surprise but it is definitely not for me.

My friend had a surprise birthday party at her house and only knew about it when she returned home to a house full of people. She said she didn't enjoy it at all and could only think of all the dusting she wished she had done.

I wouldn't like a surprise party but DH and a couple of daughters arranged a party for my 70th which was lovely. My birthday is the January and no one really wants to do another thing so soon after Christmas and New Year so it was really lovely.

DH birthday is August so we often have a bash around then.

I do like surprise presents though - that shows thought.

I dont do celebrations aimed at me. I dont mind others having celebrations but just not me. We all have a birthday after all.

I'm not a big party person, but still like the day recognized, if even in a small way. My DH never forgets, and will ask in advance what I would like to do; go out or stay in. If staying in, he will arrange that we have a cake and invite the family around for cake. My DD is good at remembering, and will remind her brothers to go visit Mum!

DH usually tells be to buy myself something nice for my birthday as well. He admits to being bad at gift giving, so will remind me to buy myself something! Since I am born in November, a pair of boots or nice gloves are guilt free options!

My birthday is in July, so when the children were at school we were often away or travelling to holiday destinations or my family home in Europe.
If not it was a BBBQ on the closest weekend with a bouncy castle etc.

My 60th I was totally spoilt by DH, friends and family.

Now it’s a family meal with AC, GC and my best friend.

It was my 70th in June. I arranged a birthday lunch for 24, all four of our daughters (2 each), their husbands and our 10 grandchildren plus two of my brothers and their wives. This was all arranged back in January, menus were decided on and wine ordered. We had a small private room in a local hotel.
I paid for the whole thing as it was important to me to have all the most important people in my life together. Probably the one and only time as we are spread all over the country.
It was a fabulous afternoon and everyone had a brilliant time.
I have lots of wonderful photos of the day.

Sar53 looking forward to seeing the photos 😘

It was my 70th this year. My brother, his partner, my sister and my niece all came over from Australia. My sister had asked my children what sort of meal I would like. She cooked lunch for 12 and my niece made a birthday cake. My younger son insisted it should be accompanied by a bowl of whipped cream. My brother made a speech. I had some beautiful presents. My elder son gave me a cooking course voucher and I’m going to a Patisserie day school in a couple of weeks! However, it feels weird being 70 and I haven’t got my head round it yet.