Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you book the day off for your DC's birthday

98 replies

thaisweetchill · 13/07/2023 21:04

Just that really? Obviously if it's on a non working day or they're a school it's a no.

OP posts:
Marsyas · 14/07/2023 15:42

It wouldn't even cross my mind - I had no idea people did that.

Barold · 14/07/2023 15:44

I don’t have kids but my parents absolutely did not revolve anything, work included, around our birthdays and we didn’t care in the slightest. Just in case anyone is feeling bad that they can’t/don’t.

gingercat02 · 14/07/2023 15:46

Yes always (he's 15 in 2 weeks 😂) but his birthday is always in the school holidays so it was handy when he was little

alloalloallo · 14/07/2023 15:46

Not when they were at school, no.

I have the last few years - 1 DD is at uni and her birthday is before she goes back. The other is at college and she breaks up for summer earlier than she did at school so is off for her birthday too.

We go shopping in the nearest big town/city, have a nice lunch out, go see a film or something.

transformandriseup · 14/07/2023 15:51

I would love too but wouldn't have enough time needed to cover the holidays. I don't book my own off either.

maddiemookins16mum · 14/07/2023 15:58

Never had, but we were lucky her birthday fell on the Easter weekend a couple of times.

Dontcallmescarface · 14/07/2023 16:33

Only when her birthday fell in half term so not every year.

olympicsrock · 14/07/2023 16:39

Absolute not - would not have occurred to me even when little . My work is important .
We all sit on bed as a family opening cards and presents, everyone does school / work as normal. In the evening we would do a family meal and cake. There is a party at the weekend nearest to the party.

LobsterCrab · 14/07/2023 16:39

No

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/07/2023 16:43

Depends! Maybe half a day as there’s no point being off whilst they’re at school

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 14/07/2023 16:54

@olympicsrock My work is important

More important than your child's birthday?

Madamecholetsbonnet · 14/07/2023 17:08

Mine are in their twenties and I still book the day off for their birthdays Grin

JaninaDuszejko · 14/07/2023 17:15

No. Too many children, not enough time. Mine are much older now but they loved the celebrations with their friends at nursery and school and would have been horrified if I had denied them that part of the day.

Squashyy · 14/07/2023 17:20

Yep but he's only one and I love any excuse to get a day off to spend more time with him Grin

AuntieMarys · 14/07/2023 17:23

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 14/07/2023 16:54

@olympicsrock My work is important

More important than your child's birthday?

Yes!!!

workemails · 14/07/2023 17:39

Yes, always. If its a school day I book it off so I can be there for birthday breakfast and then after school onwards, non school days Im off anyway.

Maddy70 · 14/07/2023 17:55

No

TheresAHedgehogInMySoup · 14/07/2023 18:00

DC2's birthday is always in a half-term, so I do book that off. DC1 is term-time but they are also much more sanguine about it. Last couple of years it's fallen on a day they've been with XH, so I just meet for dinner after work and I usually host any birthday thing with friends. If it falls on one of my days then I might take a half-day if they wanted me to.

GloomySkies · 14/07/2023 18:03

I'm lucky in that I write my own roster so I write the DCs birthdays as work free days. And my own.

MushMonster · 14/07/2023 18:09

Nope, never have.
We celebrate the weekend before or after with friends. On the day, we do something fun together after work, like dinner at a restaurant and cinema.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 14/07/2023 18:13

Sometimes, not always

Flowerblooms · 14/07/2023 18:15

I don’t go to work on my birthday or my child’s birthday. Also they don’t go to school on their birthday as we usually have a trip away/day out to celebrate.

It’s another one of those where no one is right and no one is wrong in what ever they choose to do.

KevinDeBrioche · 14/07/2023 18:19

No, and honestly I think it’s absolutely bat shit behaviour. Would ANY of our parents have done this?! In my case absolutely no way, is yet another reason this Gen think they are the centre of the world.

Madamecholetsbonnet · 14/07/2023 18:22

@KevinDeBrioche my kids are the centre of my world.

Sorry if this surprises or upsets you. I thought most parents felt the same way

KevinDeBrioche · 14/07/2023 18:25

Madamecholetsbonnet · 14/07/2023 18:22

@KevinDeBrioche my kids are the centre of my world.

Sorry if this surprises or upsets you. I thought most parents felt the same way

So long as they know they aren’t the centre of everyone else’s too.

And it doesn’t ‘upset’ me 🤣 what a ridiculous suggestion