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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:
santabelly · 29/12/2018 21:11

I hate hate my January birthday. I’ve been moaning about it for a many years now as well Grin
No one wants to do anything. Everyones bloody doing dry January. Sales presents can be much much worse than normal presents. I can’t even seem to bribe people out. I’m completely reliant on my family to do anything. And even I don’t want to go out some years when it’s really cold.

Your baby is a long way off all this though. As a dc I noticed the annoying single present for Christmas and birthday combined whilst my sisters got two, one for Christmas and one for their birthday. And also I rarely got birthday paper, always shitty Christmas wrapping paper. I make a huge fuss now about bloody having birthday paper because well I can.

Silkei · 29/12/2018 21:19

My ex had an early January birthday and it was crap. Everyone was broke, on a health kick, on a diet or doing Dry January. He would receive regifted Xmas presents or just a promise to buy something later after the giver got paid at the end of Jan. Nobody was interested in a party. He got round this by celebrating his half-birthday in July with a big bbq.

Zintox · 29/12/2018 21:22

It’s shit. She and I are both late January. No one has any money. It’s always cold and wet. No one wants to go out. Honestly I wish I had any other month but January and I deliberately had my children in summer because it’s so crap in January.

muminmanchester · 29/12/2018 21:31

I'm the 11th. It's not brilliant but not awful either. Like PPs have said, now that I'm an adult it can be hard to get people out for a night out. Lots of dry January getting in the way of a party! But dinners out are cheaper and I generally get decent gifts in the sale so the total value is higher than would usually have been spent. Ie this year DH has got me something in the Monica Vinader sale. Too expensive at full price!

As a kid it was fine. The only issue was that birthday parties always had to be indoors but it never bothered me - I suppose for my parents it just made it harder to manage and more expensive, compared to my sister with a June birthday who always had a party in the garden at home.

DS is December, just before Xmas. I think that's harder as a child as most people are busy seeing family the weekend before Xmas and so he doesn't often have a lot of people available for parties. But when he's older it will definitely be preferable - everyone loves a night out pre-Xmas! DNephew is 29 Dec - that's rubbish at any age!

GenerationSnowflake · 29/12/2018 21:40

I love my January birthday, I guess I am lucky my family has always made a huge deal about it. Thanks to the sales you probably get twice as many presents too, which is always nice.

Before children it was the best time of year to go on holiday, so I spent many birthdays in lovely holiday resorts, after having worked all through Christmas which is - in my field- the quietest and most relaxed time of the year anyway.

Even if mine is a couple of weeks later, I couldn't care less about Christmas wrapping paper, what's wrong with a Christmas birthday anyway?

Some families sounds awful if they do forget your birthday. One of my sisters is born on the 25th December, we always had a Christmas morning celebration and an evening birthday one. It might not have been ideal on the same day, but she wasn't forgotten either.

Original poster
Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 21:45

January the 2nd must be the worst Birth day of the entire year.

Agreed.

I think this would be bad but I actually think it’s second place. December 25th would be worse.
At least you could have a day out etc of some sorts on 2nd jan even if it is quiet.
Nothing you can do on 25th December that isn’t Christmas related.

OP posts:
GenerationSnowflake · 29/12/2018 21:54

Nothing you can do on 25th December that isn’t Christmas related.

But it's also the day when you are pretty much guaranteed to have most of your family around, and you can see your friends at a later day. There are worst problems to have.

Original poster
Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 22:14

Yes indeed as I have previously said these are most certainly world problems.

It’s good to know that a lot of the people who recall good childhood birthdays after Christmas or bad ones, much of it depended on how their parents approached it.
So we will have to make sure there are savings put by as it will be just before end of January pay (I won’t be allowed to go overdue).
So whilst we can’t control other people and if his friends in future will be flakey, he can always rely on us to make the effort.
It is what it is.

OP posts:
MrsStarwars · 29/12/2018 22:22

My ds is 4th of jan. We find it is something to look forward to once Christmas is over. Often plan a mini break as his birthday usually falls in the school holidays. I buy most of his presents before Christmas to make sure he gets enough to open. Them a few presents in the sales. Best of both worlds!

Original poster
Exceptionallyeccentric · 29/12/2018 22:26

What kind of places do you go for mini break Mrsstarwars I’ve never been away that time of year.
I’m assuming the rates would cheaper given the time of year which is always a bonus!

OP posts:
brusselsproutfan · 29/12/2018 22:32

My DD is 4th Jan. Last year I had her party on 5th January and hardly anyone could make it. This year I'm doing it a week later 12th Jan and everyone is coming not sure if it's coincidental or not. I buy all the presents for her at Xmas then literally halve them and keep some back for her birthday. That way she still gets everything she wanted

Fluffymullet · 29/12/2018 22:34

My DD birthday is late Jan. I previously hated January, but it does give something to look forward to post Christmas and you are guaranteed cold weather so you prepare for that. Early January, late December must really suck though...

I have a June birthday which I love because it's well spaces for Christmas. The downside is as teenagers they will be doing exams, the world cup us often on which is annoying if you are not into football although the weather can be beautuful, you can never guarantee it Will, so plan B is always needed at a bbq! Every birthday has it's down sides.

birdiewoof · 29/12/2018 22:36

DS2 has his birthday near the end of January, he’s just coming up for 2. From our perspective at the moment it’s crap, the most skint month of them all and it’s just a few days before payday 😩

MrsStarwars · 29/12/2018 22:36

We don’t all have passports so mini breaks are UK based at the moment!
We’ve been to Edinburgh, York, Stratford and many London trips. Combination of family railcard for cheap train tickets and booking premier inns very early help keep the cost down.
As long as you pack warm/waterproof clothes it is a nice time of year to venture out and about.

BeanTownNancy · 29/12/2018 22:41

Mine is mid Jan. I actually like it because it gives me something to look forward to after Christmas but most of my family and friends hate it because they are skint.

I put off conceiving my second child until it wouldn't be due any time from Nov-Feb. Wanted to put it off longer and have a summer baby but I had unexpected emergency surgery and there was an issue with my pills so I've got April/May instead, which will do. :)

paddyclampitt · 29/12/2018 22:45

I wouldn't worry about the weather, OP. DS1 b'day is at the end of Feb so we've had football parties at the sports centre, indoor waterpark parties, soft play. At least they're all under one roof!

I imagine that at the end of Jan, most people are glad of a night out / get together - we always plan one (not birthday related) so that we have something to look forward to.

Parties in the garden are all very well but it can rain in the summer!

I also find my Feb born DS was a good age for starting school - not too old but not too young if that makes sense, and i'm sure end of Jan will be the same!

MummytoCSJH · 29/12/2018 22:49

I am late Jan (within last 5 days). I've never had a problem, everyone's usually gotten over Christmas and New Year!

RockingAroundTheChristmasTree1 · 29/12/2018 22:50

It's rubbish! Everybody is poor after Christmas, the weather is always dreadful, everybody is depressed after Christmas. I think it's the worse month to be born! Im in January and my birthdays were always in the house, my sister born in August had the swimming pool out, little pool parties etc..January is crap crap crap!

Twotabbycats · 29/12/2018 23:27

DH's is the 11th. I do find it hard to think of gifts as I've used them all at Christmas! On the other hand it's good to have a reason to go for a nice meal to cheer up what is often the first week back at work/school. And I do get some presents for him in the sales!

Mine is early Feb and I think it brightens up the gap between Christmas and the first sniff of spring.

I can't help thinking it would be nice if one of us had a summer birthday as an excuse for a garden party or other outdoor celebration.

Youseethethingis · 29/12/2018 23:57

My birthday is late January and it’s pants. Even I don’t want to celebrate then. Everyone’s skint, slightly depressed by the dark and the gloom, and probably having a “dry January” and on a health kick to lose Christmas pounds so not much scope for fun and games as an adult. 30 this birthday as well so no doubt I will be even more filled with sunshine than usual! Grin

paddyclampitt · 30/12/2018 00:33

PS DH has an August b'day and he says that's pretty crap as everyone was always on holiday so was hard to organize a party!

ErrolTheDragon · 30/12/2018 00:43

Mine is fine because I never have to work on it and no one forgets it.

RelativePitch · 30/12/2018 00:50

8th here. Totally shit. Was usually the day we went back to school or started winter exams on and like everyone else has said no one wants to do anything as they are broke or detoxing. I do share the date with David Bowie though.

Lifecanbeabeach2 · 30/12/2018 00:56

My daughters is the 2nd and it’s is genuinely the worse day of the year 😂🤣

Schmoobarb · 30/12/2018 00:59

I think end of Jan would be OK but I think the first week or so is crap.

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