To tell ds his birthday is on a different day?

[purpleteapig]

My son is turning 3 on Wednesday. We've told him his birthday is this week but he only has a vague idea of days so doesn't know it's Wednesday. We're not having a party due to the expense and figure that can wait until next year when there's no avoiding it (and every year after!).

DH is working Wednesday and leaving v early, so it's just me, DS and his baby brother on the actual day. DH thinks we should tell him his birthday is on Saturday so we both have the day with him and give him pressies together - but this feels a bit wrong to me. I know rationally he'll be none the wiser, but to let his actual day go past without mentioning it seems weird. Also I don't know what the gps will think (they usually FaceTime him). Is this unreasonable?

I did this once when dh and I were both at a close friend's wedding on the actual day of ds' 2nd birthday and wouldn't be with him at all. It was definitely a one off.

I would tread carefully with this though. My friend did this every year with her dd until she went to school - by which point she was too old and school mention it etc - and the dd had an almighty tantrum about not spending the whole day with family/not having her party on her actual birthday etc "But I ALWAYS have my party on my birthday!" she wailed.

Birthdays do fall on work days, school days etc. That's life!

I'm quite surprised that so many people think it's a bad idea. I've done it every year without even giving it a second thought