40th birthday today

I managed to have a birthday meal in a restaurant for my 40th after 2 years of ill health including cancer, chemo, bowel surgery an ovarian cyst and a full hysterectomy. I was weak but grateful to.be there with my close family. I remember it very fondly.

Were you happy with the meal?
Is it seeing what others have done that makes you think you should be doing something more?

I would be content with a meal when it's my 40th, as I don't know enough people to have a party (plus that's not really my kind of thing anyway) plus I have children who would have to join in with plans.

I think it is all about what fits your expectations and likes, don't go comparing to what others have done.

I went to Canada for 2 weeks with dh and 2 teens 😄

Happy Birthday.

Happy 40th birthday 🎂

You have a whole year to do some other things if you feel that a meal was not satisfactory
Why not plan something for yourself ?

For my 40th I went on a very memorable mini island break with some friends. I chose the location & where we stayed.

I had birthday cake with some other friends

Happy Birthday OP! 🎂🎉

I went for a meal with my child and DH. We were just coming out of lockdown but in a way I was pleased as I didn't want loads of fuss. For DH's last year we went to Edinburgh for a few days and we had a family meal.

I was working. Nothing on the day apart from cards.
I have realised that most of my 'special anniversary' birthdays have been 'meh' for one reason or another, and other birthdays have varied between 'meh' to nice to really enjoyable, so decided not to put pressure on the day as it was on those years that the birthdays were the worst due to unfulfilled expectations

Crikey, i really had to dig deep to remember my 40th. I refused to acknowledge it but my friends had other ideas and travelled from all over the country to surprise me. it was a double celebration as my decree absolute had just been granted, a whole weekend of chat, laughter and way too much fags and booze, bloody fantastic.

I went out for a meal with bil and sil. I had a party for my 30th under duress. I'm just not. A birthday person.

I went to the local pub for food with dh and dc. That's it.

I come from a family who never made much of a fuss about birthdays so
it was fine with me. I can't do with a fuss.

On my birthday itself we were away with another family for half term (not birthday related) so all went out for dinner. Later on in the year when weather was nice we had a big BBQ, so if you feel like having a party it doesn't need to be done now!

Rather than throw a party further down the line (in light of hassle from your ex), or similar which was going to be my suggestion, how about lots of smaller lovely things to do throughout the year? With different people.

You don't need to celebrate you on one day only !

I can’t even remember so clearly nothing spectacular! I haven’t had a birthday party since I was small child. I can’t think of anything worse, I hate being the centre of attention!

A few days in Prague.

I went to work during the day. Came home to nothing much. DH asked if I wanted spag bol for tea and I was so upset by the nothingness that I just went to bed. 50 next year and hoping for better!

Happy birthday!

For my 40th mum got me a cake from the village cafe/restaurant (i normally bake all the birthday cakes and wanted one that i hadnt made for a change) and we had a takeaway in the evening.

My mum had our boys and we i spent my 40th on California and Vegas. I didnt want to be at home for it and would have despised a party!

Happy Birthday!
Yanbu, you do what you feel like theres no obligation is there? Mines in a years time and i am already thinking about it and hoping to have a party, but I am outgoing and love to get together for parties. but I get that others don’t like the be centre of attention and its their idea of hell. Ill hopefully also go for a week away with my wider family later in the year, maybe a villa or something as we have never had a holiday as an extended family but always say we will, so a perfect excuse to actually do it

Happy birthday & congratulations on getting out of the relationship!

My 40th was pretty crap but it was the day that I decided to get out of my bad relationship, which is probably the best gift I ever gave myself. My birthdays got progressively better after that & my 50th, on the bank of Lake Como with wine & gelato, was brilliant.

You’ve got a lot of great birthdays to come.

Mines coming up. I've booked a cruise. Want to be away and doing something memorable.

Hope you've had a nice day.

Happy birthday 🎂 🥳

I had a day off work and went to the gym.
Spent the evening pitting my pesky non-sleeping child back to bed endless times. Still bitter my family didn't even see if I wanted a meal out or party tea.

On my 50th I went to the tip and did have a meal out.

Were you happy with your birthday meal? If so, that’s all that matters. There’s no “better” than what you wanted to do. If not, then start planing something for your 41st now - there’s nothing magical about 40 which you can’t choose to do at 41 or 44 or whenever else.

I’ve been to “big birthday” celebrations ranging from dinners to big gatherings in a pub function room to villa holidays abroad - my friends’ preferences and choices are as varied as they are.

I signed the contract for my kitchen and the floor on my 40th. Run around like crazy so that I could have a bit of celebration too. I think a meal for your 40th is nice if you liked the place and the people you went with.