What did you do for BIG birthdays?

[MissMoo2222]

I know not everyone likes to celebrate birthdays, that's fine I understand that and am usually not overly fussed myself. However next year is a milestone for me (30/40/50 type birthday) and DH really wants to do something special but we can't come up with anything other than a spa weekend away. The thing is we'd have to take our little one as there's no-one who could have her overnight so it doesn't feel very exciting/romantic knowing we're on her schedule.

So, what did you do that you really enjoyed or what would you have loved to do but didn't get the chance.

40th meal I'm a Michelin restaurant with friends
50th exotic holiday with. My dh

Following with interest.

DH is a couple of years older than me. We had our first child in our early 30s so for our 30th birthdays we were blissfully child-free and both had parties and weekends away, lots of fun Now we have two young children and DH is turning 40 soon... my plan is a a weekend away (all of us including kids) with friends and their kids, will still be nice as kids play together and we get adult company and can still have child-free time when kids in bed. Will also have a posh meal out and get a babysitter. My 40th is in a couple of years and I don't know yet but probably an evening party and babysitter! Kids will be that bit older so might possibly leave them overnight with family and go away somewhere. We'll see. At least by the time we turn 50 it will be much easier to abandon the kids .. or they will party with us

How old will your daughter be when it's your milestone birthday?

Party in a hall.

Never popular on here, but I like a party. I like seeing my friends. I like a dance. I like a buffet. Very much enjoyed them.

We rented a holiday cottage big enough for everyone and had a lovely long weekend away. My family is really important to me.

DH and I planned to go on a river cruise for my 60th, but ill health and lockdown got in the way.

I might go away for a holiday next year. I'm not sure that the river cruise will be economically viable on my own...and we'd planned on one that went through the steppes, so that's definitely out!

30 8 months pregnant. Meal in local pub with friends and family
40 weekend in York with DH
50. 5 days in Lanzarote with DH. Got home one day before they went into lockdown
DH is 60 at the start of 2025 so no doubt it'll be another break away. Neither of us is keen on a big fuss

For DH's 30th we went on a weekend away to Edinburgh but that was before we had children.

For my 30th I'd just had my DD so my sister looked after her for a few hours and DH and I went out for a fancier than usual dinner.

40th we've booked a cruise. They have kids clubs for children of all ages so hopefully DH and I will get a bit of time to ourselves but essentially it's a family holiday.

Booked a big house on a spa estate (essentially the Waitrose version of Haven) with all of his family. On the day of his birthday, I paid for a private chef to come cook for us at the house. Very sad for my bank account, but is literally the best meal I've had in my life. Plus we didn't have to worry about washing up after or about the kids as we were at 'home'.

30 went to Venice on the Orient Express
40 country retreat
50 Australia
60 was at work
70 next year Australia again

No children though

We love a birthday here. 30th house party (no kids) 40th DS was 9 months so night away in lovely hotel, DM babysat. 50th weekend in Edinburgh and tickets for F1 at Silverstone.
DH 50th was 2020, so weekend in local (nice, national park) holiday cabins with takeaway dinner from our favourite restaurant. I still owe him a trip to Iceland.

My 40th - DH booked a spa weekend away in a posh hotel with a babysitting service, so we could go out for dinner. Had 2 children under 4 with us.

Friends 40th - group of friends, all with young children shared a holiday home for the weekend. We had a caterer in to cook dinner and clean up afterwards one night, which was really good. Keep meaning to do it again, but kids are too old to pack off to bed now - much easier when they are little!

50th - Michelin dinner
60th - at the vet with a poorly dog!

(Did the dinner thing a week later and going indoor skydiving - main present - this weekend)

30th - party in a bar
40th - weekend in Prague with DH
50th - family adventure holiday with our kids (teen/tween)

30th birthday I gave birth.

40th birthday I went to work.

21st - New York
30th - Paris
40th - Iceland

Had one DC at 30 and 2 at 40, we love to take them with us for all trips. Hate travelling without them. They make it better 😊

30th I rented a big house and went away for a long weekend with a group of friends and family. DH had a party in a hall.

40th, DH has rented a house and we're going away with a group of friends and family. My 40th is a bit further away than his so I've not really thought about it yet but I'm considering doing something similar or having quite a luxe catered party at home.

Thank you for the replies, some great birthdays had by you lot!

I keep changing my mind once we've decided on something, I hate the thought of all the money involved in most of the ideas but DH is adamant it doesn't matter.

Would love to have been born in Spring/Summer and could have just did a family holiday!

Probably too late, but if you have a daytime babysitter option, Michelin star restaurants often do quite a reasonable and still special lunchtime option. Did for my 30th. Loved it.