Celebrating adult birthdays

[NeonIcedcoffee]

Inspired by another thread. Why are loads of mumsnetters so down on adults enjoying their birthdays? Do you not like to have joy and celebration in your life? Do you not like to have fun? Is it deeply uncouth to enjoy one's self on your birthday and I missed the memo?

My view is, life is at times hard so take all the joy and celebration you can. This means enjoying your own birthday and that of loved ones.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I get celebrating special ones but normal adult birthdays I think are just for the household. I don’t get why adults get upset when friends and family don’t make a fuss. I see birthdays as something children celebrate along with 18/21st.

But why do you think like this. Is it just something you were brought up with?

Also I don't think I actually said anywhere that the celebrations had to involve people outside of the household. Although not every lives with a partner or anyone.

Once again many posts saying it's fun as long as you're not bratty but why are so many people jumping to the assumption that people are expecting a big fuss and lavish gifts. Rather than just to spend time with their loved ones. Why such an unpleasant automatic assumption about people? Why don't people assume others are just normal and want to do something pleasant with lived ones in their birthday.

Feel like that says quite a lot about people making those assumptions.

A birthday means cakes, presents, a party (and usually a holiday)
What's not to like

It's hurtful if your own family doesn't celebrate.

I wouldn't expect the whole world to be involved, and to cancel everything to be available - plus I wouldn't involve the whole world anyway, but adult birthdays matter just as much as children.

You just pay for your own party if you want one . It sounds normal for friends and in-laws to send you a message or call you, it's weird that some people purposely don't.

Life is too short not to celebrate when you can.

A birthday doesn't mean cakes and parties to everyone. I hate parties thrown for me. I'd rather get some friends together for brunch, go to the pub, nice meal out with DH.

I always try and use my birthday as an excuse to get all my friends to go to the pub. They don’t seem to mind. In fact I was lucky, it was in March, the last time we were all in a pub.

I would like a little bit of fuss, especially if I don't have to organise it myself. I do get a bit jealous when I see on facebook that my friends have woken to their favourite breakfast, flowers and some lovely presents. Then they get taken out for lunch/shopping and/or dinner and cocktails. And this has all been arranged with them asking for it, their family and friends seem to know them well enough and love them enough to put in the effort.
I'm lucky if I get a couple of cards. It would be really nice to have a bit of a fuss made over me just for once.

I'm all for other people celebrating their birthday, and I make a fuss of my children's birthdays, I'll send my friends a card on their big birthdays, and attend their parties. I just don't want to do it for my own. I'd prefer it to go unnoticed if possible. But I don't think anything of others choosing to make a thing of their own.

I was told off on that other thread by pointing out the same thing
Apparently nobody celebrates their birthday in the real world.

Not celebrating bdays is a bizarre MN thing, like not being friends with your colleagues (or school mums...or anyone....)

I agree that princessy adults who expect a whole build up for their birthday and need to be the centre of attention for the week prior are a bit OTT, but surely for the vast majority there is a middle ground between them and the martyrs who think it's childish to expect acknowledgement and a box of chocolates from their nearest and dearest? To me celebrating a birthday is basically saying "I'm glad you were born and are in my life," - What could possibly be U about that!?

I don't go in for 'big' celebrations necessarily but am adamant about booking my birthday off work every year - even if I do FA else having a lie in is enough of a treat!