to think that actyally, why do mothers not get presents on the anniversaries of their births?

[HookedOnHooking]

After all. It is us that does the labouring, Us that does the sweating, the bloody hard work, the pushing, the growing of the bloody human inside our bodies, the power, the splitting of our poor tender perineums, the entire bloody production!

Why do we not get any recognition every year?

So unfair.

I can't think of any time that isn't right for a loving gesture. Sorry.

No apology needed

Every year on our DDs birthdays my friend and I text each other with "this time X years ago, well done us!". We met at ante-natal classes, became friends, and went into labour on the same day. My DD is exactly an hour older, due to my friend's labour ending in a CS. I asked the midwives to put us on the same ward and they did! So DD and her friend really have known each other their whole lives

WhoKnowsWhereTheChocolateGoes blimey no wonder your OH has to walk on eggshells.

Since I became a mum I've always thanked my mum on my birthday, just a cuddle and a thanks. He rolls her eyes and we have a laugh. She then gives me a cuddle and says well done on my dc's birthdays. It's something between us. Nothing major though.

I wonder, do any of you thank your own mothers on your birthdays?

Singingdands My dh's mum and his best mates mum, met at mother and baby group, so dh and best mate met when they were only s few days old. They then went to nursery together, not split up for primary, they met again at secondary and have been best mates since and they're both in their 40's now. They were the best man at each other's weddings. It's a sweet story for two not sweet men, lol

I can't think of any time that isn't right for a loving gesture. Sorry.

When your spouse is using the toilet, taking an exam, having a smear, just got to sleep after feeding the baby at 3am, playing paintball, giving the cat a tablet, trying to read his/her book, or whisking a cake, etc?

You might need to consider (genuinely) apologising to your spouse...

Mine would be under the patio if he didn't get that kind of thing

Bloody hell. I think the op was tongue in cheek, but a lot of the later posts aren't. For decades I'd be in trouble if it got late in the day on my birthday and I hadn't phoned my mother yet... This is why isn't it?

Tara :o

Have you been watching the big bang theory OP

On a serious note, I've just remembered a thread about a husband who did wake the OP up to tell her he loved her. I think she was the mother of a young baby and he utterly refused to get that waking an exhausted person up to say 'I love you' wasn't actually very loving.

When your spouse is using the toilet, taking an exam, having a smear, just got to sleep after feeding the baby at 3am, playing paintball, giving the cat a tablet, trying to read his/her book, or whisking a cake,

Toilet, smear, exam or paintball we wouldn't be together anyway. The most loving thing to do to a sleeping tired person is to let them sleep. Giving the cat a tablet, I may pass a towel or give a sympathetic smile. Yesterday I was reading a book and feeling chilly, my OH came up without speaking, brushed my hand as he passed silently picked up a soft blanket and draped it around my shoulders. Whisking a cake- yes I may hand a cloth, wipe a splatter clear a few items from the area to make things easier.

Yes, there's no right or wrong, but there are always people who take it too far, like some of the MILs and Mums upthread. On our DD's birthday, of course it's all about her, but, in the evening, about the time she was born, me and DH often have a bit of a reminisce. It was an awful birth, and a really special time for both of us, and we like to remember it. It wouldn't occur to DH to do presents, he's not that type!

I buy myself fizz on the Inferiorettes' birthdays! And swig it down merrily. They have youth, energy, loveliness and fabulous parents, dammit: I on the other hand need all the props I can get.

I like to tell my kids about our journey together on their birthdays

Usually around the time of day they were born.

I love to tell them 'that was you and me, kiddo!'

They love it!

I also have wine on their birthdays and raise a glass to myself

I was adopted when I was 10 so like to text my Mum on the morning of my Birthday each year and declare "just think, if Dad's swimmers had worked it could have been you grunting and sweating like a pig trying to push out my massive head at this precise moment". She always replies that I shouldn't be crass and that she's almost certain my body has caught up with my enormous swede by now.

I suspect the OP was light hearted!
Some people seem very serious about how big an issue this all is.

DD likes to know about her birth day and what time/how/weights etc and used to ask what time she really had turned ...whatever age it was that year.

I have joked with friends before that it should be us having the treat that day as it was that did the hard bit - but it is JOKING, tongue in cheek, having fun.

I do tend to have some fizz on the day though, was previously after DD had gone to bed but she's older now so doesn't go to bed early enough. In the past it was probably more a reward of getting through the latest birthday party as well though!

Hula agree on fizz for getting through the party

Ahh we're so boring come to think of it, we say the same things every year. On my DDs birthday, she was born in mid April, someone is sure to say "it was snowing 15, 16, 17, years ago, on this very day" Oh dear.

I buy myself a present. Sometimes jewellery, sometimes nice wine or posh chocolate. Always something that's just a little bit decadent. I pushed babies out of my lady parts. I deserve chocolate.