We have always made a big fuss of birthdays with the dcs (we have three) and we have a set routine that happens every birthday morning, which they all really look forward to even though they are getting older (19, 15 and 11)
Ds1's 16th birthday is on May 23rd, next year, that is the Saturday of Bank Holiday weekend. Ds2 is the only goal keeper for his football team. They have an excellent record and were almost unbeaten last season. He has been with them one season and so we don't know any of the other parents that well.
The team are going to Bognor Butlins to compete in a tournament next year which is the Friday to Monday that includes DS1's birthday. The cost for three nights is £116 per person.
Ds1 does not want to spend his 16th birthday away from his mates and girlfriend, at that price we can't afford to take them ( at that price it will be a struggle for us!)
If one of us goes, it will be a shame for ds1 and his birthday traditions, I'm not that comfortable sending him with someone else. We had thought of sending him with someone else for the Friday and Saturday and us going on the Sunday (it's about 400 miles away) but the price will still be the same.
Ds1 and ds2 don't really get on, it's hard enough to keep the peace between them without one of them having to sacrifice something important to one of them for the sake of the other. Brotherly love does not exist in our hosue at the moment!!