Would this be stupid?

AnnapolisLari

I am giving serious thought to having the kid's birthday parties on their half-birthdays. Two December birthdays are just too much. We do cakes and dinner of their choice at home with the immediate family, but...

DS had a big first birthday party.

His second didn't happen because we had a 6 day old baby in the house, and I was 1 day home from a c/s.

His third birthday (and DDs first the week before) got cancelled because they were both sick and contagious.

His 4th birthday party didn't happen because of major snow, and his school party didn't happen because there was a snow day. DD got nuthin' again.

Would it be too weird to celebrate their half birthdays in June?

EMT

kinda weird

KrisBriMcBunny

no not really....I know a few people who celebrate their kid's winter b'day in the summer just so they can have a pool party and/or have it outside.

summerbrideDC

I'm sure they'd love parties in June, but good luck next December when they know it's their birthdays and they're waiting for the celebration. LOL 

Bellisimo

Maybe not THAT early, but I do have friends whose kids' bdays fall in December and due to the hectic nature of the month of Dec, they host their birthday parties in say, Oct. or Nov.  It's helpful to everyone involved I think. 

gibs

seems like a good way to teach your kids that if they don't like the hand that life deals them, they should just make up their own rules and get everything they want.

some of your friends might see it as a tacky ploy to get summer presents in addition to xmas presents and/or presents on their actual bdays

I vote double no. You had kids in december. everyone knows december is a crappy bday month.  They have december birthdays.  Live with it.

 

AnnapolisLari

Wow, I guess my kids get screwed out of birthday parties, then, because my eggs  fertilized in March instead of September or something.

Does it take a lot of energy to be such a c*nt all the time, gibs? Merry Christmas to you, too.

I am just trying to figure out how to let them have their special day like everyone else does. DS was old enough to be really disappointed that he didn't have his special day at school.

I think it would be stranger to have the party in a random month like October than at the halfway point of the year.

 

 

*Amy*

Bellisimo:

Maybe not THAT early, but I do have friends whose kids' bdays fall in December and due to the hectic nature of the month of Dec, they host their birthday parties in say, Oct. or Nov.  It's helpful to everyone involved I think. 

 

I would do something along those lines.  This  way their birthday is not that far away but you avoid some of the sickness/snow. 

Yodajo

I think it would be better to celebrate their birthdays in November or January than to do their half birthdays. DS's school does celebrate half birthdays for the kids that have summer birthdays, but for a parent to do that because of the hecticness of December would be a little unusual. That's just my initial reaction after reading your post.

Pats_wife

My nephew's birthday was Dec. 23rd and some  years he had his friends party in the summer.  It was not that big of a deal.  Also I know your pain of having a child's birthday in Dec.  my sons birthday is today and we have had to change birthday party plans last minute due to snow and holiday parties.

joseysbride

Oh, geez. I don't think this is a bad idea at all!  I don't know that I would do it every single year, but I think it's a fun idea to say, "hey, due to circumstances, nothing worked out for their birthdays, so we are doing it in june instead."  I don't see the difference in that and people who have the party a month later or whatever because of holiday schedules and stuff.  And there have been times when we've had to have R's birhday party not on the day of her real birthday.  We still celebrate in a small way (ie cake and a special dinner) on the actual day, as well as have a party.

I love hosting parties and get togethers, and I am not one who thinks that just because there is a party, you are asking for gifts.  I think it is sad that some feel this way and almost seem annoyed when they are invited to yet another birthday party.  If you can't go, fine, but don't make it seem like it is some big inconvenience to you to actually care about a child's birthday. 

AnnapolisLari

Yoda, the reason I asked is that MY intial reaction is that the random Nov. or Jan. would be strange.

Guess I'll just send out invitations early and hope for the best.

august06mom

I vote weird, and I agree with pp -- I don't think it will get you out of celebrating on the real day.

katie277s

I'd do it in January or November. 

Yodajo

AnnapolisLari:

Yoda, the reason I asked is that MY intial reaction is that the random Nov. or Jan. would be strange.

Guess I'll just send out invitations early and hope for the best.

I do think that since they had nothing this year, doing it this summer would be fun for them. Maybe specify that you are having all the kids do a book exchange instead of gifts so that it doesn't interfere when you celebrate their next birthdays in, say, January. Idk. I get how you feel because Sam is born two days before Halloween and Max on Labor Day weekend and celebrating their birthdays seems to be inconvenient for some. Having it two or three weeks earlier or later wouldn't be weird for me. A half birthday may not be either, but I've just never experienced it before, so it would be unusual to me.

shouldbworkin

Yodajo:

I think it would be better to celebrate their birthdays in November or January than to do their half birthdays. DS's school does celebrate half birthdays for the kids that have summer birthdays, but for a parent to do that because of the hecticness of December would be a little unusual. That's just my initial reaction after reading your post.

ditto this.  I've seen it done in Nov, Dec and Jan.  Early Dec doesn't seem to be much of a problem, as long as kids are still in school it's not too hard to get together for a bday party for them.  I can understand it's not easy to throw the party, though.  so, pick what makes it easy on you within reason.  I'd also pick a "rain" date in case you get a bad snowstorm.  I've also seen this done and seen parties rescheduled for a month later in January b/c of snow/holidays/vacations.  No one minded, we were all happy to GTG with the bday girl for her special day. 

veloelle

My birthday is Jan. 3. For school, I always went back on my birthday. I never got the "Happy Birthday!" over the loudspeaker like every other kid because the first day back is suck a cluster. No one in school ever remembered my birthday. Of course I was a little sad. Meh. You move on. My parents never ever combined b-day with Christmas. I always had a b-day cake and presents, which I appreciated.

Of course winter birthdays want a summer bday. Beach parties, shorts. But really, it was a blip in my childhood. I think as long as the parents acknowledge the day as very special, that makes up for it. At least it did for me.

I think if you as a family want to do some summer b-day tradition, that's fine. But I'd keep it to immediate family only. They aren't the only ones w/ holiday b-days, kwim?

neesernicole

I might do this but I'm not sure I'll call it a half-birthday. Just a summer party and since we're not really party hosts ever - it would be a big deal for us. No gifts would be involved - just bbq and pool time and whatever you lucky ducks get to do to celebrate when it's warm. I have a Jan. bday and it totally sucks having it this time of year, ppl never remember it or it's just too much of a pain.

Cbidt's girl

My nephew has had 1/2 bday celebrations due to his Xmas bday and I wasn't surprised or offended in any way. It was great to have a reason to celebrate in thr summer. We've also done parties closer to his actual bday other years. Celebrate thevway it works for you.

Jodi&Joe

Am I the only one that sees nothing wrong with this?

There is one flaw -- if you are talking about kids parties, it's harder to organize in the summer.  Many are on vacation, etc.  I would have kid parties (schoolmates) sometime around his birthday.  Do it the 2nd or 3rd week of November or something?

For family, have it in the summer.  Who cares.  My family wouldn't.  My friends wouldn't.  My kids wouldn't.  There parties are rarely, if ever, ON their actual birthdays.  And they don't know WHEN their parties are until I tell them.  They might, at this point/age, question when their party is going to be BUT, they are older than your kids AND they HAVE had a party every year since they were born.  That's what they are used to.  Your kids should, at this point, not expect it as it's not something that has taken place except for one year.

 

praline

gibs:

seems like a good way to teach your kids that if they don't like the hand that life deals them, they should just make up their own rules and get everything they want.

some of your friends might see it as a tacky ploy to get summer presents in addition to xmas presents and/or presents on their actual bdays

I vote double no. You had kids in december. everyone knows december is a crappy bday month.  They have december birthdays.  Live with it.

 

This is not really related to Annapolis OP, but isn't that what we want our kids to do?  Take lemons and make lemonade?  Triumph over adversity?  You know, take the crappy hand life may deal you and make it work for you.

This is ridiculous in light of the original post though.  There aren't hard and fast rules about children's birthday parties. Annapolis I think Bellisimo has a good idea...celebrate them a little earlier in the fall with friends and then have a cake and family dinner on their actual birthday.

GinandTonic

I've thought about it.  DD's first birthday got sicked out (she had roseola) and her second got snowed out.  This year, I had her kid party way back in the first week of December and then we had a little family cake and present party on her birthday.  It finally worked out.

 I don't think I'd actually move it to the summer because DS's is in the summer and it's not like we wouldn't acknowledge her December birthday at all, so she'd kind of have two and he'd kind of get screwed.  I think I'm just going to keep planning it early in the month.

mathteacher

I am going to reply to your post as someone with a December 10th birthday and who has two daughters with spring break birthdays. 

I think it is odd to have a half birthday party.  However moving a party a few weeks before or a few weeks after the actual birthday to me is no big deal.  If one of my children was invited to a birthday party in January for a December birthday I would totally get it.  I don't know that I would get it in June (and I have a December birthday).

My oldest daughter has never gotten to celebrate her birthday at school!  We always have to do a week before or a week after due to spring break (same thing will happen when my youngest is in school).  She doesn't like it, she would prefer to bring treats on her birthday so she can feel special.  Sometimes life just doesn't work out the way you want it.

BTW, I had no idea when I got pregnant that March 14 and 19 would always fall over spring break.  When I was a kid spring break was around Easter (late March or April).  I also was a teacher for 7 years before I got pregnant the first time and we never once had a spring break that early!  We just have to take what life gives us.

justEK

Jodi&Joe:

Am I the only one that sees nothing wrong with this?

There is one flaw -- if you are talking about kids parties, it's harder to organize in the summer.  Many are on vacation, etc.  I would have kid parties (schoolmates) sometime around his birthday.  Do it the 2nd or 3rd week of November or something?

For family, have it in the summer.  Who cares.  My family wouldn't.  My friends wouldn't.  My kids wouldn't.  There parties are rarely, if ever, ON their actual birthdays.  And they don't know WHEN their parties are until I tell them.  They might, at this point/age, question when their party is going to be BUT, they are older than your kids AND they HAVE had a party every year since they were born.  That's what they are used to.  Your kids should, at this point, not expect it as it's not something that has taken place except for one year.

 

You're not the only one!

I think you should do whatever works for you and your family. I would go to the party whenever you decided to have it.

Jodi&Joe

And only on the Nest would it be suggested to NOT have gifts for a kids birthday party. 

WBs_Bride

My kids' birthdays are Dec. 3 and January 29. We have a tiny house, but a huge backyard AND pool. My DH says we poorly planned their pregnancies/births in light of the birthday party situation! I have seriously thought about doing half-birthdays, too. But I think it would be hard for my kids to understand why they're not having a party on or near their actual b-day (this year DD#1 was confused as to why the party was the day after her b-day--because her b-day was on a Friday). I just know it would be hard, especially as they get older. We've had parties snowed out, where some people couldn't make it, but for the most part they've been OK. WIthin a few weeks is one thing, but I can't imagine explaining to them that they have to wait 6 months for their party.

AnnapolisLari

Ain't that the truth, Jodi.

 

Yodajo

Whatever.

I suggested doing something other than gifts because it's odd to me to invite everyone to a party in July and then again in December to another party for the same kids. So, if I were throwing it, I would prefer to not have it resemble a traditional birthday party and would want it to be more about everyone getting together to have fun. I guess I am trying to make something work that just seems different to me.

If it works for you and your kids, go for it and have fun.

gibs

praline:

gibs:

seems like a good way to teach your kids that if they don't like the hand that life deals them, they should just make up their own rules and get everything they want.

This is not really related to Annapolis OP, but isn't that what we want our kids to do?  Take lemons and make lemonade?  Triumph over adversity?  You know, take the crappy hand life may deal you and make it work for you.

This is ridiculous in light of the original post though.  There aren't hard and fast rules about children's birthday parties. Annapolis I think Bellisimo has a good idea...celebrate them a little earlier in the fall with friends and then have a cake and family dinner on their actual birthday.

Making lemonade from lemons and triumphing over "adversity" means taking the situation AS IT IS and making the best of it or viewing it as 'half full' rather than 'half empty.'  Teaching kids that if they don't like the situation someone (parents) should step it and fix it for them is going to make them entitled spoiled brats who are crappy employees and friends/spouses of the future.  Just my opinion. I'm sure they have something better than others to balance out their crappy birthdates.  Suck it up.

EliseB0323

My birthday is Dec. 28. I always had a birthday party, but there were always friends who couldn't come. I don't remember ever feeling bad that my birthday was right around Christmas. The only thing I didn't like was that I didn't get to bring cupcakes to school for my birthday or have a mini-golf party. I got over it. I did like that I didn't have to go to school on my birthday.

With two kids with Dec. birthdays I could see how it would get hectic. My cousin's birthday is on Dec. 25th and she always had a party the first week of December, which worked well because people are in a partying kind of mood then. That's probably what I would do in your situation.

Another idea is to pick another holiday for a big party like Halloween and celebrate birthdays in a smaller way.

I did have a boyfriend one year who took me on a "half-birthday" picnic that was very sweet. He got half a cake and a half dozen roses -- you get the idea.

Jodi&Joe

Yodajo:

Whatever.

I suggested doing something other than gifts because it's odd to me to invite everyone to a party in July and then again in December to another party for the same kids. So, if I were throwing it, I would prefer to not have it resemble a traditional birthday party and would want it to be more about everyone getting together to have fun. I guess I am trying to make something work that just seems different to me.

If it works for you and your kids, go for it and have fun.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding Lari but I think her intent is to celebrate on the half birthday INSTEAD OF the December birthday.  Meaning, not TWO parties but one.  But instead of the party being in December, it would be in July, for example.

CCinLove

There is nothing wrong with your idea. DS has a Dec birthday, and we will eventually move to celebrating his half birthday. Now that more kids will be invited, our options are to rent a bigger location or move the party to the summer so it can be outside. I never want to have more than 5 kids in my small house again. Grouchy people who think it's a gift grab need not attend.

shopgirl78

I always thought 1/2 birthdays are weird.   But I can see how late Nov/Dec/ early Jan birthday suck.   DS2 is Jan 2 and I already feel he is getting jipped.  He is the third child and has a birthday 8 days after Christmas.   Money is tighter.   Despite having 3 little friends with other Jan 2010 birthdays, we decided to go ahead and celebrate his birthday while we are in town with family and my "hometown friends"  whom I adore.   We had a party for each of the other kids first birthdays here but while he will have a party away.  It kinda of makes me sad I am not doing all the planning, etc.  I just need to suck it up!  It really is great that we will have our family.

I have a friend with two Dec birthday kids (1 & 20) and she did hers the last week of Nov.   I was thankful for that as our weekends were pretty full this month but she is a great friend and we would have def went to the party no matter what...

DD has an August birthday and while she gets to have pool birthday parties.   She never gets to have her school friends (unless they are esp close).  Her bday is at the end of summer (where you have lost touch) and/or too early in the school year. 

Andrewsgal

I do think it is strange to do a half birthday, a couple of weeks of before or after is much better than some random summer date. DS's bithday is right around Thanksgiving, and mine is Christmas Eve so I do have some experience with this. I just do DS's party two weeks before or after and mine was always the same.

AnnapolisLari

Sweet baby Jesus in the manger, this board can turn anything into a shiitstorm.

My kid is 4. There is plenty of time for him to 'stand up to adversity' and not have a sense of entitlement. Of the kids on this board, mine is not one of the ones about whom I would have that particular concern.

He's a little kid who was excited to have a special day and got gypped out of it. I asked a simple question and got turned into a mom who is trying to gift grab, etc.

Geez. I need to remember where I am asking questions.

DandelionMom

I've thought about the half birthday thing too (both the older girls have birthdays within a week of Christmas). 

I haven't done the half birthday thing yet.  Instead one DD has her party at the beginning of Dec and the other has it at the end of Jan.  It is still a PITA though. 

Jodi&Joe

"Of the kids on this board, mine is not one of the ones about whom I would have that particular concern."

Care to share who you were thinking of with this comment?  (I'm just bored and looking for drama!)  LOL

AnnapolisLari

Jodi&Joe:

Care to share who you were thinking of with this comment?  (I'm just bored and looking for drama!)  LOL

Nope.

 

AnnapolisLari

Jodi&Joe:

Care to share who you were thinking of with this comment?  (I'm just bored and looking for drama!)  LOL

Nope.

 

Halo79RN

I would honestly find it odd to receive an invite for a 1/2 bday...   

I had a summer bday.  it stunk to not get the bday day in school (aka, have mom bring cupcakes at lunch).... I didn't have big parties with friends from school... my parents couldn't afford it and I didn't live near the people I went to school with (parochial school).    I would have my parents, my grandparents and maybe one or two little kids from the neighborhood over for cake (no invite, just that we were playing and my mom would invite them in).  I still felt special. 

your child will not remember not having a party on his 2nd, 3rd, 4th or even 5th bday.  plenty of people have successful winter bday parties. I'd leave it be... maybe throw the party early dec or early jan  (within 3 wks of the actual bday).   I would think it would be more confusing for a preschooler to have the 1/2 bday party.   if your child gets sick or there's a storm, just postpone it... not cancel it.  not to mention, shittake can happen in the summer too... 

AnnapolisLari

Jodi&Joe:

Yodajo:

Whatever.

I suggested doing something other than gifts because it's odd to me to invite everyone to a party in July and then again in December to another party for the same kids. So, if I were throwing it, I would prefer to not have it resemble a traditional birthday party and would want it to be more about everyone getting together to have fun. I guess I am trying to make something work that just seems different to me.

If it works for you and your kids, go for it and have fun.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding Lari but I think her intent is to celebrate on the half birthday INSTEAD OF the December birthday.  Meaning, not TWO parties but one.  But instead of the party being in December, it would be in July, for example.

Oh, God no. ONE party.