To send 3yo DS to nursery on his birthday?

[BasinHaircut]

It's not a school nursery it's the sort you use while you go to work, so it's not like sending him to school on his birthday IYSWIM.

DH and I are fully capable of taking the day off and spending it with him but TBH it's in the school holidays and going anywhere like the zoo etc will be a proper ball ache as everywhere will be packed.

If he goes in to nursery they will make a fuss, I'll send in party bags and a cake and they have little parties on birthdays so he'll most likely have a great time.

I'll probably still take the day off so I can pick him up early and bring him home for presents and maybe get the grandparents over for tea too.

DH and I will probably take him somewhere a few weeks earlier as a birthday treat instead to avoid the holidays.

I feel guilty planning a day off in his birthday when he still has to go to nursery..... But he'll never know will he?

The idea of taking him to the park doesn't make me feel anxious, I just meant that I know he'd have a better time at nursery and keeping him off to go to the park (where we go ALL THE TIME!!) when I know they would make a fuss of him seems a bit sad.

I can spend the day preparing for a family tea party instead, maybe assembling his bike etc.

Don't get me wrong I do love a day off from him, but I wouldn't send him to nursery on his birthday just for a break!

Do send him in, he'll have a great time!

Yes I would pick him up early, that would be the point of taking the day off!

I read it as though the reason why he was going in to nursery while you take the whole day off was because he was going through a difficult phase and even going to the park made you feel bad. Which seemed a bit sad.

But if you think he'd have a better time there and the park is boring- send him in.

Pick him up early then the GP can see him later as well

I've never worked on my birthday either

Definitely don't feel bad for sending him in even if you're off. Mine would have been gutted to miss the opportunity to have cake and a fuss at nursery - and they do know, they see their friends' birthdays celebrated.
Have a lovely day yourself, have a lovely longer evening with the birthday boy, and have a lovely day when you do the actual celebration trip thing.

"Pick him up early then the GP can see him later as well"

I think that is also a large part of why the OP is taking the day off. I'll probably still take the day off so I can pick him up early and bring him home for presents and maybe get the grandparents over for tea too.

YANBU, he will get made a fuss of and revel in the attention whilst you get time to prepare a lovely birthday evening/afternoon for him. He won't know any different.

I also don't see what is so precious about taking a day off for your child's birthday? My DM would often book the day off if she was able to even when I was at school, it meant she could pick me up straight from school so we could go shopping or for a nice meal/soft play etc. It's nice for the DC if you can get the time off, it made me feel special anyway.

I did a very similar thing on DD's 4th birthday. I worked for half a day, came home, sorted out a birthday tea, wrapped (well tied a ribbon on) her new bike and then picked her up early for a birthday tea with the grandparents. She had a brilliant day, spoilt rotten by the nursery, played with her friends who also made her a giant birthday card and then a family birthday tea at home. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again... If she weren't now at school that is. Enjoy your day, it sounds as if DS will definitely enjoy his

Warn nursery that you're picking up early, so they can celebrate before he leaves.

Sounds like he will have a fab time at nursery, send him in and take a half day yourself, so that you can prep for the family party and collect him earlier.
Once he starts school if his birthday normally falls in the holidays you will probably find you plan to take annual leave then anyway instead of using child care.