Making a Holiday Birthday Special

My son’s birthday is December 24 (yes, Christmas Eve). My birthday is December 27. My first nephew’s birthday is December 18. My second nephew’s birthday is December 19. My mother-in-law’s birthday is December 10. Why do I love the holiday season so much? Because it’s full of family, celebrations, food, birthdays, and love.

It’s kind of hilarious. My first nephew was born on December 18. My second nephew was born on December 19. My son was due on December 20 (but he didn’t arrive until Christmas Eve). Had my son been born on his due date, my parent’s grandchildren would’ve been born on December 18, 19, and 20. Of course, our son had to be defiant and completely change it up. So, one might say the pressure is on to have our second kid close to Christmastime as well.

Who knows. The second child, if and when I get pregnant, might just decide to be super defiant and arrive in the middle of summer.

As a Christmas baby myself, there is one question that always comes after, “When’s your birthday?” Can you guess what the question is?

“Does it suck to have your birthday be so close to Christmas?”

My answer has always been “no.” Absolutely not. Why? Because, to me, Christmastime is the most magical time of the year. The house is decorated beautifully. People are so full of holiday cheer. Usually, snow is on the ground and the landscape is breathtaking. The fire is burning in the fireplace. Counters are full of holiday treats. The smell of cinnamon is in the air.

I mean, seriously, what’s not to love about all of that?

Since my birthday is two days after Christmas …

• Some people are usually too caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and forget to wish me a happy birthday. You know what? I’m fine with that. Go, enjoy your holiday season.
• School was always closed on my birthday so I either didn’t have a birthday celebration or I had to bring cupcakes in at the beginning of December to celebrate my birthday.
• Some presents would be wrapped in Christmas paper instead of birthday paper.
• Some friends were always out of town celebrating the holidays with families so having a birthday sleepover party was hardly ever in the cards for me.
• Some people would combine birthday and Christmas gifts to make “Merry Birthday” gifts.
• I never make a big fuss about my birthday. There are those people who have birthday months or weeks. I would just like to treat my birthday like any other day of the week … but, adding a bit of cake never hurts.

So, there you have it. Yes, holiday birthdays come with a bit of negatives. But, those negatives have never stopped me from loving a holiday birthday. My parents always made my birthday special. And, my husband is all about birthdays and loves finding ways to make my birthday special.

When I found out the due date of my son, I couldn’t help but laugh. My husband couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Another holiday birthday in the family. I quickly decided that I was going to take a couple plays from my parent’s playbook since they were right on point during my childhood.

How To Make a Holiday Birthday Special

Ask relatives to wrap birthday presents in birthday paper

… and, always give a birthday present and a Christmas present separately. I remember showing up to my grandparent’s house on Christmas and having aunts and uncles hand me my birthday gift (to be opened on my birthday) in birthday wrapping paper. It may seem like a small thing but to me it was huge.

Have a birthday cake

The holidays are so full of holiday treats that it can be easy to try and make one of the holiday treats a birthday treat. Have a cake ready for your child that is full of birthday cheer. Also, don’t forget the birthday candles.

Pick a non-holiday theme

My son is totally into Spider-Man right now. He has never seen a movie or a comic book of Spider-Man … he’s turning two. When we were grocery shopping, he saw a massive Spider-Man balloon and he’s been obsessed ever since. We’ve bought him Spider-Man pajamas, a book … he can’t get enough of the character. I can’t wait to pick up Spider-Man decor and give him a Spider-Man cake on his birthday.

Decorate with non-holiday decor

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in holiday decor during a holiday birthday. Last year, I bought all sorts of blue decor and decked out the house with birthday decor. Yes, the matchy-matchy side of me hated the fact that the blue birthday decorations clashed with the holiday decor throughout our home. But, I loved watching my son’s face as we carried him through the blue streamers draped from the ceiling.

Have a half-birthday celebration

Since kids were always out of school during my birthday and friends were always out of town during the holidays, my parents would throw me a half-birthday during the summer. I would have a birthday sleepover or go to a local birthday place (remember Plaster Playhouse, anyone?). Then, my Mom would always take me out on a birthday shopping trip during the summer.

Make a special birthday dinner

Instead of serving holiday food on the person’s birthday, make the person’s favorite meal for dinner. Or, go out to the person’s favorite restaurant for a special birthday dinner.

Do you have a Christmastime birthday?

Photo via ErinMadeThis.