to think just because its lockdown doesn't mean you can forget birthdays

[pheasanteggs]

Parents and siblings announced that they're not sending anything this year. Siblings too. DP says we will do something for my birthday after lockdown.

As a creative person I think birthdays can be extra special during lockdown. Birthdays should be celebrated. Here are ideas on how to make someones birthday special during a lockdown for anyone who needs ideas

-Make an incredibly ambitious cake together, finding creative inspiration online

• treasure hunt involving clues leading to a gift
• beautiful walk with whoever you are self-isolating with
• picnic at home in the garden
• decorate the kitchen with lots of birthday signs
• birthday music
• games night with friends and family online over video chat
• With kids its easier, kids party games, musical statues and musical bumps
• Moon pig and other online card companies if you can't leave the house
• Many online gift companies are still operating
• Movie night with popcorn
• 3 course fancy meal with decorated table
• buy a kit and make cocktails, soap
• hang a sign from your window 'Happy birthday X'

If you're lucky enough to have a garden or have kids it's easier.

That's fine if you want to do those things.
It's not fine for you to get narked when others don't do it.

My god you are hard work. If we are in lock down during my kids birthdays I will off course make an effort to make their birthdays special. All tne adults in my life thankfully understand I've far more stressful and priority issues in life right now.

It’s my birthday today. I’m 33! Dunno how the fuck that happened.

My parents and one of my siblings came and dropped off presents at my door this morning while they were out a walk. My mum made me a birthday cake! I haven’t seen it’s covered up, DP and dd will do the whole candles thing later.

My other sibling ordered something online and it hasn’t come in yet, hopefully tomorrow.

DP ordered something online too that hasn’t come in 😔 him and DD made me cards last night so they could give me something, which is lovely.

We’re getting a takeaway and watching a movie tonight.

Not the best birthday in the world, but I’m with my 2 in my home, we’re warm, fed and happy if a bit scunnered. There will be more birthdays!

Meh. Just before lockdown I ordered bday presents for DS who will be turning 6, from us, and both sets of grandparents.

On the day he'll have the cake of his choice and whatever dinner he wants. We'll make as big a fuss of him as possible.

My birthday is 5 days later and I think I'll get nothing at all. Doesn't matter. DH will make it up to me later. Anyway, if anyone should be celebrating my birthday it's my parents! They did all the hard work bringing me up

Moon pig and other online card companies if you can't leave the house
Many online gift companies are still operating

Really?
Lets all put workers, packers and delivery people at risk so that you can celebrate a birthday. Soooo special.

-Make an incredibly ambitious cake together, finding creative inspiration online can't get hold of any flour or sugar

• treasure hunt involving clues leading to a gift fine if you are doing it for a child
• beautiful walk with whoever you are self-isolating with I wouldn't call a trundle to our local duck pond beautiful tbh
• picnic at home in the garden ants
• decorate the kitchen with lots of birthday signs haven't got any paper
• birthday music yea I suppose it's doable
• games night with friends and family online over video chat shit Wi-Fi and no 4G data left
• With kids its easier, kids party games, musical statues and musical bumps ds gets overexcited and then can't pay properly and it always ends in a frustrating mess
• Moon pig and other online card companies if you can't leave the house no money
• Many online gift companies are still operating no money
• Movie night with popcorn can never agree on which film to watch
• 3 course fancy meal with decorated table we've only just about got the essentials
• buy a kit and make cocktails, soap don't drink and have no money
• hang a sign from your window 'Happy birthday X' don't want the whole world to know we have a birthday

I don’t think there’s anything wrong if people either don’t remember or don’t do much or anything, it’s an extraordinary set of circumstances just now. It’s my son’s birthday tomorrow and he’s not expecting much, thankfully I did a big card factory shop weeks ago so I already had his card in and I’ve ordered a few gifts. Family members have said they won’t be doing a card but will put money in his bank. My sister says she’ll send a moonpig card and put money in his bank. He is going to be 14 and understands

My sister’s birthday is in 2 weeks and I’ve ordered her a gin hamper to be delivered, she’s working in the NHS and deserves a treat

Stop being so precious, stupid and self centred. This year is different to any other we have had, accept it.

BringMeSunshineInMyLife ordering things online is a lot less straightforwardly wrong or right than going into shops. It's entirely likely that it will involve no extra risk in terms of anyone coming into extra contact, and can be a very low risk way to keep jobs/ bolster the economy. Ethical decisions about who to order from are ideal obviously... It's a far less clear cut area than going shopping.

Lets all put workers, packers and delivery people at risk so that you can celebrate a birthday. Soooo special.

For the umpteenth time, places are actually allowed to open, run their businesses, and keep people in work unless they have been closed down by the government. Yet again, do what you like but don’t berate others for not complying with your made up rules. The government have said they want businesses to continue and people are allowed to go to work.

Birthdays should be celebrated.

Er...says who? Just because you like it doesn't mean everyone else does. Some people prefer them to pass by unnoticed and that's up to them.

As if lockdown isn't bad enough we don't need the celebration police too.

I politely told my family several weeks ago that they had better fucking remember to send my daughter a 13th birthday card for this week . We bought some glittery tat via Amazon to decorate the house, we bought her presents several weeks ago, we got a cake delivered with the last online supermarket delivery we'd ordered.

Blimey, looks like one or two people got out of bed the wrong side this morning.

YANBU OP.

It's my birthday this week so me and my kids will have cake but that's it until lock down is over then we will do something fun

I actually think you are being very selfish OP. Money is even more tight for some people right now. For some it's a choice between feeding kids or spending g a stupid amount on a moonlight card for an overnight entitled adult. Kids needs win every time. Stop putting pressure on people who already have more than enough on their plate right now.

It'll be my birthday during lockdown. I have zero musical talent - can't even sing in tune, but DC and DH are all very musical. I'm asking them to rehearse a mini concert for me - a solo each andsomething all together. They have time to practise!

Totally agree OP that birthdays can be celebrated. Skype/Zoom, call and sing happy birthday. People in same house can make cards and lovely meals and a cake, string up bunting and lights. Have as much fun as possible. That's what gets us through this.

DH and I are both trying to work full time from home with two small children. I am more stressed than I've ever been. Being expected to make "an incredibly ambitious cake" would probably push me over the edge! I can't believe that there are actual grown adults who expect this level of fuss on their birthdays in the normal run of things, let alone in the middle of a global emergency. Also, I'm baffled as to why you think it's so much "easier" to create a magical lockdown birthday experience if you've got kids. Literally nothing is easier with kids!

Parents and siblings announced that they're not sending anything this year.

How responsible.

I’ll admit I’m slightly gutted as my LO is one in two weeks we planned a birthday party & a trip to the zoo. But we will celebrate it as best we can. I guess it’s not like he will remember

I started reading this thinking it's okay, just do something nice for your child at home... but... no... wait... you're asking this for an ADULT????!!! WTF?

Grow up. YABVVVVU. Sending presents is an unnecessary journey that puts your relatives in danger. Just be glad you still have living relatives that you can throw an adolescent self-centred strop at every year when things don't go your way.

If its children's birthdays, absolutely make a big deal of them.

If an adult expected me to arrange a treasure hunt in the garden for her? Please

It’s my birthday this week and I am miserable about it. Yeh blah blah blah adult and you should be grateful for a job and health. But I was going to go to a lovely restaurant childfree with DH and see my family. As it stands I get to do the same thing on my birthday as I have any day off so far, be in my house. Hooray. Tried to buy myself chocolate as a present but Hotel Chocolat are completely out of stock. I hear you OP

BringMeSunshineInMyLife ordering things online is a lot less straightforwardly wrong or right than going into shops.

A birthday card is not essential whether you go to the shops or buy it online.

I wouldn’t expect cards and gifts from other relatives but definitely wouldn’t ignore my DC’s birthday, that’s just cruel.

And what will you do for your 6th birthday next year OP?

What hard work you must be.