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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tell me about your January birthdays?

145 replies

Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 17:05

I’ve seen lots of complaining on here recently about people with December birthdays/their dc have December birthdays. And everything that is crap about it.
And I get it.
But Aibu to think January is an even worse time?
Dc2 is due the end of next month.
I had a conversation today with a shop assistant about how much she hates January and what a dreary and miserable time of year it is and it’s got me thinking.

At least a December birthday people are generally happy and jolly.
Everyone seems to hate January, and I get that this is a first world problem, but I feel like this child will be much less likely to get a happy, jolly celebration as everyone will be skint/dieting/freezing. Sad

Dc1 is summer born and always has a lovely celebration.

I’m hormonal and probably overthinking this somewhat.
But if you/your dc has a January birthday how is it for you?

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 29/12/2018 17:06

Ds2 is the end of January, it's great cos I can get his presents in the sales 😉

MakeTeaNotWar · 29/12/2018 17:07

My birthday is 5 January and it's shit. Everyone is skint and / or doing dry Jan, I get tat from the sales or unwanted Christmas presents as gifts. Nobody wants to eat yet more cake Sad

Sirzy · 29/12/2018 17:07

I think by the end of the month people are well over Christmas and looking for something fun

I am early January, doesn’t bother me but I have always been “meh” about birthdays anyway (maybe that’s why!) means I can go sale shopping for my presents and get more for the money though

4boysthatilove · 29/12/2018 17:08

I'm a January birthday, and to use my 9 year old's favourite phrase - "it sucks"! When I was a child the big Xmas present always used to be for birthday as well, so when my birthday came round I didn't get much. Too soon after Christmas and everyone is broke and fed up! Sorry not much use am I?

Santaissleepingoffmincepies · 29/12/2018 17:08

Ds is 15 in Jan. He is getting a major bedroom revamp!!
He can't wait!!

jamaisjedors · 29/12/2018 17:10

I won't lie, it's not amazing for the dc, but more because parties have to be indoors.

Also ideas for presents are often hard to find because you've "used them all up" for Christmas. I tend to plan Christmas and birthday presents for ds2 (end of January) in December to make sure he has good presents for both.

I have a December birthday and got a bit fed up of joint presents so am extra careful to make it special.

I find a lot of people forget it or don't bother, which is sad for ds2, but if you put in the effort it can be fine, particularly at the end of January.

loupyloupyloolaaa1 · 29/12/2018 17:12

Mine is the end of Jan and hand on heart it's never been a problem for me, through childhood or adulthood! Something nice to look forward to after Christmas Smile

TheOxymoron · 29/12/2018 17:13

Yep mine is very soon.
Crap!
Everyone is back at work, doing dry January and skint.
It’s not even worth arranging a party or get together because of the above and people feel they need to get you a gift if they come so they avoid it, even though all you want is for them to attend.
They have had enough of celebrating and are usually in some health kick living of carrots and dust so no point even having a sodding cake!

Presents can just fuck off, don’t even get me started.

Knittedfairies · 29/12/2018 17:13

January birthdays aren’t the best, which is why I have a half-birthday in July.

Original poster
Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 17:14

Yes I have myself imagining that he will have no school friends to a party because parents are all skint.
And late January/february weather is truly awful, just bitterly cold miserable weather, it’s rarely even those crisp bright winter days. And he will see his older brother having summer garden parties.

So sad Sad But I am aware I’m giving this a lot of headspace also..... probably far too much.

OP posts:
fluffiphlox · 29/12/2018 17:15

Mine is in the first two weeks of January. We usually go to a show or similar. For significant birthdays I have an ‘official ‘ birthday in July.

Original poster
Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 17:15

Ah thanks loupy good to know Smile

OP posts:
purpleelk · 29/12/2018 17:16

DH is end of January and he loves it. His friends and family spend the same ££ but because they buy in 50-60% sales, his gifts are always worth twice what they’d normally afford. When we were single, city breaks at end of January were always cheap too, so he’d get treated to mini holidays.

FuzzyCustard · 29/12/2018 17:16

My birthday is near the end of January and I get hugely fed up of people moaning about the month. I only have one birthday a year, (surprise!!) and wish people could be a bit more thoughtful about what they say. And not give me sale tat or regifted rubbish!

As a child I had my share of "joint" Christmas and birthday presents, which would either be really annoying or occasionally an opportunity to get something bigger.

I wish my birthday was in better weather, as I'd prefer to do outdoor things, but last year 15 of us went for a coastal walk and a pub lunch and it was great.

My DH is very aware of how miserable a Jan birthday can be and always does a great job of making it as good as possible.

ThatsWotSheSaid · 29/12/2018 17:17

Dd is late January and has never been an issue. I think there is a big difference between early January and late January.

TroysMammy · 29/12/2018 17:18

I'm the 17th and it has never been a sparkly birthday. The weather is damp and grey. I feel meh. Any presents that involve going away or out for anything is said with "we'll go when the weather is better". I had to wait until July for my 50th weekend away present this year.

When I was a child I would have a small birthday present, eg had a bike for Christmas, a saddlebag for my birthday.

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 29/12/2018 17:18

End of January isnt too bad

Dh is the 20th and hasnt really had any problems

But ds1 is the 3rd and thats a pain in the arse!!

purpleelk · 29/12/2018 17:18

Kids love January birthdays too. Something to look forward to after Xmas and I’m happy because I can always pick up a gift in sales, so I can easily find a £10-15 gift for a fiver.

zebrarobot · 29/12/2018 17:21

My birthday is today and its probably been the worst one yet. No one bothers about your birthday at this time of year.

Socksey · 29/12/2018 17:22

Try a February birthday..... the non month.... the weather is bad and people still broke after Christmas and nobody wants to know.... it's the month people try to forget about.... not even a token acknowledgment, rather a 'don't mention it as it's not happening .... I have siblings with birthdays close to Christmas and seen the whole present for both etc but they've never experienced our own parents actually forgetting it .... January is bad but at least it exists....

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 29/12/2018 17:22

Oh and i agree with purple re presents

Not from other people ( ds1 usually got the dreg ends of gifts other people's children didnt want) but sometimes family members get a bit of a bargain

knittedjest · 29/12/2018 17:23

I have two born in January. No different to my children born in July or November etc It's just a date. What you do make of it is up to you.

SushiMonster · 29/12/2018 17:25

Mine is mid Jan. I’ve always quite liked it.

Never really had issues with only getting one gift or people not coming to my parties.

Dry Jan people are annoying but I try not to hang out with people that require a month off the booze and no social interaction to make them feel ok about themselves.

SachaStark · 29/12/2018 17:25

I'm the 11th, and I like it very much! It's a good excuse to go out for a cosy meal with just DH (nobody else wants to because they're broke!) to a favourite restaurant, just as you're getting over the "eaten too much" feeling from Christmas. I like that I have something lovely to look forward to, so my January certainly isn't "miserable"!

When I was a uni student, my birthday was always the first big house party after everyone got back from break- always fantastic!

As a kid, I don't really remember. I think my parents used to do a tea party for me, as it had to be indoors. I'm sure I was probably disappointed that we couldn't not go out to a theme park or something, like some of my friends did.

We've never done "big" presents for birthdays in my family, so never upset about not getting much after Christmas. I DO remember being hacked off that I used to get leftover Christmas cakes used for my birthday cake, however!

In short, I reckon it'll get better for your DC as they get older: less fuss on having to do entertaining parties for littles, great excuse for a back to uni party with his housemates, but don't try to pass off a leftover cake for his birthday with, "Oh, but you've always loved reindeers!"

SushiMonster · 29/12/2018 17:26

My friend has a 3 jan birthday and she usually co-opts NY party and has a summer ‘unbirthday’ party.