Birthday blues

It is not true that we expect less on birthdays when we get older. It is true that we expect less or even prefer not to invoke public attention on birthdays but more from our family members, at least it is my case. As a mom and wife I have always taken cared of each family member's birthday making sure that the day is celebrated with loving attention. Now my kids are grown and spouse entering senior age, I do hope that on my birthday that I don%%u2019t have to be the person who end up baking/buying my own birthday cake; have someone else serve the cake to me for a change; have the family members gather together sing a happy birthday sang without being asked for; and oh, have someone offers and does dishes for once.
I know some of these wishes may be not very significant and even artificial. Being a well educated and mature adult I know I could suppress my disappointment when my birthday (it actually is today) seems to be just one of the 365 days. I have been very fortunate to have a stable home and well educated/successful kids. Still, I do feel depressed; and worse when I open up to my family about my feeling today it seemed offended my family members as though I have been too demanding and childish.
For my own emotional health I need to be able to speak my own mind even if it is at the cost of having my family relation tainted and strained %%u2013 I only hope that it is temporary - for the better in the long run.

Everybody forgets my birthday, it is actually today btw. Last year my mom remember my birthday a week after, and when I was 16 I got my first failing grade ever in my life. yippie for me. Most of the time I end up buying myself a present. I got myself an ipod last year.

as most people get older, they don't want to celebrate their birthday, because they hate being reminded of their age, and birthdays only get more and more less special as you become older. Ive noticed this as i went from my tenth birthday to my 20th to my 30th and now almost 35th. It's a bit depressing but, if you at least do something on your day that you don't on most like celebrate with the ones you love, your birthday doesn't have to be a time for you to be depressed, it can just be a day to be grateful and happy for what has been put on your plate, and to be alive and realize that your life is only over with a single chapter and that many more are to come.

i say its normal. i hate my birthday to and everyone calls me a selfish asshole for it. but seriously who the hell wants all that attention when it could be spent on bettering the world

When you decide to celebrate a birthday in a big way to make it special invite people well in advance. Have them RSVP - then you know how many to plan for. Sometimes people expect events just to happen, when they require planning.

If you have planned well, and the turnout is still small, throw a great event for those who care about you, enjoy yourself and reassess the relationships of those who w/o good reason didn't attend later.

Better to have 3 or 4 really good friends than 50 or 60 fickle nobodies.

yeah, I hate birthday parties mostly because there's too much social eating and too much attention, unless you are the type that likes attention lavished on you. Are you?

I feel the same way, usually my birthday ends up being the most depressing day of the year for me. The last time I actually had a birthday party only six of my friends showed up. The only advice I can think of is to save some money and buy yourself something nice.

I know how you feel :/ I had a party this year and i ended up crying in my room because only ONE person showed up, of the 3 i invited, but it was still depressing. Then my cousin decided to try to break my window with ice, and break down my door. And since my mum doesn't have a lot of money on the table, i didn't get a gift from her, and i have never gotten a gift from my relatives that i am close to, except for my Nana. I don't even remember half my birthdays, i guess i am just a xmas kind of person

normal, especially the older you get.

Birthdays used to be important to me when i was young now its just oh damn I'm another year older.

aww you should love your bday. It dont matter how many people you have at your partys as long as your with your friends you can have all the fun you want.

By the way HAPPY B-DAY!!

Your story is typical of life in general. People do not always reciprocate the way we hope or expect. You sound let down and disappointed that the effort you show is not returned by others. I suggest you focus on remembering the birthdays of those who acknowledge your birthday and politely drop the others.

I stopped celebrating my birthday as far as parties go when I reached my teens. From then on, it was just my girlfriend and myself on our birthdays. As you get older, it is typical for most people to just spend a birthday with one or two friends at most and little more.

Lower your expectations and plan something you like to do on your birthday and you will not feel gloomy when the day arrives. Life in general isn't fair so don't compare yourself to others.

Thats sucks :(

To tell you the truth, I wouldnt make it a point to go to other people's b-day parties. Why waste all the time and effort going to theres if a lot of people dont show up at yours. It is always good to have a small group of close friends that come to your b-day party. Thats all you really need, its just another year in my view. So next time, I wouldn't make a big deal about it, don't worry!

dude it's ok. U get sexually aroused by girls assholes. I do too. I whack off almost all the time to it.