To send a birthday text at 6pm

[Trufflebutter24]

It’s my cousins little boys birthday today. I see my cousin as an older sister and love her and her son and see them often.
Today was her sons 2nd birthday and I had planned to ring this morning but we were late on the school run and I didn’t get a chance.
I had the most intense day at work, and I could have text her during the day but I wanted to call and so I waited till I got home and text the minute I got in.

My kids got home at 7, I rang as soon as they got in but expected it would be too late, so sent a video of us singing.

The only response I got was “too late?”. To which I apologised.

I know feel absolutely terrible, I didn’t forget the day but now maybe she thinks I did? I’m sitting beating myself up now.

Am I out of order?

You wished him a happy birthday, on his birthday, and it was too late?!

ywnbu

Don’t feel terrible. She sounds rude. Maybe her ds had gone to bed by then but he won’t care. She can show it to him tomorrow!You sound very thoughtful.

Maybe you could text her saying exactly this

Does she not mean that he was already asleep so the video was too late?

This

He's two he doesn't actually care so I can't possibly see how it is too late. Her message was very rude!

Guess maybe too late for him to physically watch the video on his birthday (maybe she was thinking you were hoping for a reply from him or something?) but defo not too late to wish a happy birthday. Even moonpig does 'happy belated birthday!' cards....people forget, it's usually innocent. Personally would be glad you'd sent anything no matter what time.

I'm gonna hope my first thought on her meaning was right and it'll all be fine in the morning when he sees the video! Also...he's 2....he has zero concept what's going on. It was my daughters 3rd birthday in May and she still periodically asks me 'can today be my birthday again?' 😂 Clueless!!

Dont worry about it. She's being rude. The majority of my happy birthdays and videos of the kids saying happy birthday to people get sent after my kids go to bed. Noone cares. My family on the other side of the world technically get them late because of the time difference but they dont care. Because life is busy and really it shouldnt matter if its late, its the fact you actually do it.

Thanks, I feel better reading your replies. Messages can be misconstrued but the “too late” and no other message that made me feel completely awful. I’m hoping it’s nothing

Whats the mum meant to do though? Play the video tomorrow? I think its a bit shit to send a video when you know the kid will have had the whole day of birthday and be going to bed. It would have been better to have sent a text to mum saying you hope they all had a wonderful day and here's an amazon voucher for her to choose something

Wtf! I’d say ‘oh was it yesterday? I’m so sorry!’ I was sure it was today!

It is too late though. She's probably got through the day, done all the fun stuff and now you've sent a video and he's asleep/she's trying to calm him down. I'd have sent a message from work tbh rather than waiting til 7.

Why can't the cousin show her kid the video tomorrow? He likely won't actually care either way so why does it matter? If she'd sent a text then it's not a personal and the child wouldn't be able to read it so why is that preferable to a video he can watch in the morning?

There was literally no reason for the cousin to send such a rude message.

You rang as soon as the kids got in at 7 but expected it was too late (so she didn't pick up?) and sent a video instead when you could probably guess it's too late. If you are really close maybe she expected something a bit more timely.

My mum once threw a hissy fit about how I sent a happy birthday text too late (same as you after I finished a hectic work day when I would actually have time to sit down and craft a nice message / reply if they replied)

I told her she was being ridiculous

Some people are so uptight about such small things and I really don’t get it - now I take the attitude if they want to sweat the small stuff, let them, but I won’t be

It's not really worth doing though. The kids are asleep. They've had their birthday. How is a kid meant to learn they only have one birthday if it carries on to the next day. It's fine if you address it in the video though ie. Sorry it's late, hope you had a great day.

She should just play the video tomorrow, he’s two, don’t be such a drama queen, stuff like this rubs off on kids and makes them bratty too.

That's what would bug me. The lack of acknowledgement it was a bit late.

Of course it’s worth doing, don’t be silly, a two year old won’t really understand anyway but if the child was older it’s totally fine to receive a belated birthday message.

The kid is 2... they won't care and surely be happy their birthday has gone on more than one day. Gosh, people are precious.

Sometimes mine get cards or messages a few days late and never been bothered, it's the thought that counts.

A text at 6.00pm would be fine if it was “hope x had a good birthday”. A video of children singing at past 7.00pm is too late. Child’s going to be in bed or on its way.

Your cousin’s a twat. Who cares about a bloody birthday text?

So her message had a question mark? Are you sure that it isn't just a misunderstanding and she wasn't checking whether it was too late to call you back?

I guess in future just do a moonpig card or celebrate early when you see them, if she's going to be precious.

You know what would bug me? Someone being rude about a birthday message, and it’s the kind of attitude that causes people to think sod it I won’t bother at all next time for someone so ungrateful.