I was just having a conversation about birthdays the other day, and it dawned on my that I have never, in my entire life, had a birthday party. I’ve been invited to plenty, but never has one been thrown for me. It’s just something that we never did in my family. Birthdays were family affairs, in which the celebrant got to choose any restaurant (within reason), then home for cake and presents. And they were always good times. I have no regrets.
The only exceptions were when my sister turned 10-ish, and insisted on a party, and when my parents turned milestone years. (This year we’ll gather somewhere in the midwest to celebrate mom’s 70th.)
So what’s your story? Have you gone through your entire life without?
The last one I had was at age 5 (76 years ago). The Depression years were so bad we could not afford one again, and then as an adult saw no reason to have one.
Now I don’t even want to recognize that I have birthdays.
What exactly would constitute a “party”? We would have a cake for the birthday child, and the rest of us would sing “Happy Birthday”, and there would be a few gifts for the child to open. Is that not a party or do you mean, the kind where you invite other children/people?
We always did the family at home with a birthday cake thing - sometimes there would be ice cream, too. The celebrant got to pick what Mom would make for supper (from her known repertoire, of course), as well as selecting the flavor of cake and icing she’d make.
My one brother had a couple birthday cakes when a kid. No guests for a formal party ever. I don’t think he ever got a present as a kid on his birthday, because he almost always was forgotten. The few times they remembered it was we’ll get it this weekend. As an adult I can’t say what he got from girl friends over the years, but it wasn’t a party with guests. He had the only birthday that always slipped peoples minds.
No birthday parties. No slumber parties. I think I had a friend spend the night exactly one time. I realized afterwards that our house was a sterile cavern with few entertainment possibilities and zero good food to eat. It was horribly embarrassing.
And I’m a bit of a social idiot as a result, I think. I have a hard time when people come over—I hardly know what to do with them (or myself), even though I have plenty of ways to entertain these days.
I had a first birthday party and I seem to recall a party when I was five or six but that was just my normal ‘family only’ cake plus a friend from school. I’ve never ever had a party since then. I used to have a roomie who would throw herself a party every year. Get together a cake and decorations and invite all sorts of people, remind them constantly for a month ahead of time when her birthday was and I always found that kind of tacky. But at the same time I was a little jealous since none of my friends ever remembered my birthday, let alone get me a gift or card.
I have only had a few and there were joint parties with a brother and niece who happen to have birthdays near mine.
But, my mother had never had one until we threw her a big surprise party when she was 70. She has a twin brother, and he was there too, but the party was more for her. She is 75 now, and we had another one for her(them) last year, but skipped the surprise. It nearly did her in the first time!
They were born in 1933. Had we known they had never had a birthday party of any kind I am sure we would have had one sooner.
I just asked my husband if he ever had a birthday party, he said no. He may have had a cake with his family after dinner a few times, but no parties with guests and presents or anything. We both come from large family’s, and were happy if anyone remembered, and if we had a cake!
He is 45. I guess I better throw him a party soon!
Family, home, cake, if that. I never had an actual “invite others” party, but I never particularly wanted one (save perhaps for my 40th birthday, when I did- but everyone forgot:(:D).
When I was young there was always an ordinary cake after an ordinary family meal, and a few presents from my parents to open. Never had a big party with lotsa friends and hoopla because a) I was born in the very armpit of winter and b) I wasn’t popular. Today I get a few birthday cards and Mr. Salinqmind and I go to our favorite restaurant and eat drink and be merry and then go home and sleep it off. (My wealthy brother, one year, took his knockout beautiful wife on a mystery trip in a limo to another city. Surprise! Garth Brooks concert! Surprise! Lobster and champagne in their suite at the Ritz! Surprise! Diamond bracelet! I guess that’s what you get when you are knockout beautiful and have a rich husband.)
I think the last one I had was about 14 years ago when I was twelve. I always felt selfish (or self concsious perhaps) about celebrating my day of birth. I know it should just be lighthearted fun, but me being Mr Serious always thought “What makes me so important?”
Also August 27th sucked for birthdays. For me it was always the first day before school began. No one ever remembered…wasn’t even announced on the intercom
First birthday party I had was in high school when we had a party/sleepover for my friend and I who were born two days apart in the same hospital, delivered by the same doctor (the dad of one of our future friends) and who has the same fist name as me, but with a different spelling. Since then…nothing. I kind of hoped my daughter would throw me a party for my 50th, but that didn’t happen. I turn 52 in 17 days…I’m not holding my breath for a party this year, either. Just once, before I die…a party just for me would be nice…before I’m so old that people don’t want to buy me anything other than grocery store gift cards and disposable items.
Never had a party or even a cake. My birthday is a week before christmas. When I was in grade school, after dinner I was told to pick a gift from under the tree with my name on it. As I got older that stoped happening. By high school my brothers and sisters were told not to even tell me Happy Birthday! All of my siblings would get family parties and occasional invite parties. One year anaunt asked me what I bought with my birthday money she sent me in my card,I never got the card. Nowadays people seem suprised when they find out I haven’t spoken to my family in over 25 years.
Man, this thread makes me feel bad for some of you. Everyone deserves a birthday party now and then!
My brother never seemed interested in birthday parties after about age 8 (although my mother would always do the cake & favorite dinner thing), but my sister and I had birthday parties every year up until we were 17.
How else can teen girls learn to be vicious little bitches if there aren’t drama filled birthday slumber parties to attend?
:dubious: