I was born at 7 minutes to 11 on Christmas morning. I swear I was. The fact that my most favorite treat ever is a coke Slurpee found only at 7-11 is not lost on me. I'm the oldest of 5 kids and was my parents joint Christmas gift on the first Christmas they were married.
When I turned one they realized how royally jack-up my birthday was bound to be as I got older and never truly got to have my own special day. So instead of celebrating my 1st birthday, they waited. Beginning that very first year, I celebrated my birthday on April 6th. In what can only be considered Divine Inspiration, my parents decided that since we celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas that I could celebrate mine on what is truly his birthday, April 6th.
I LOVE it! I love that on my "real" birthday I get to be with my family and have yummy food and now that I'm older I get to watch my kids experience the "Christmas Magic". It's always a wonderful day. Then, a few months later, I get to have my own special day and do fun things all over again. It's a total win-win.
This is all I've known. I've never NOT celebrated my birthday on April 6th. To me, it's as much my birthday as the day I was born. So it's always really bugged me when my friends (or usually the guy I was dating) would say "I'm not celebrating your birthday because it's not really your birthday." Then Christmas time would come around and it was always "I'm not celebrating your birthday because you celebrate it in April." The meanies. Most of the time, though, I was spoiled on both my birthdays.
Since I never expected much for my birthday on Christmas, I was always so incredibly touched (beyond what words can even describe now) that my Grandma Brown would always give me a special birthday gift AND a Christmas gift in addition to whatever she gave me in April. It wasn't much, usually a book, but it told me that no matter what, she remembered me and I was important. (But that was a common thing when it came to my Grandma Brown. She always made you feel like her favorite.) My brother and sisters would also wake me up every Christmas morning by coming into my room and singing Happy Birthday to me. That was all the recognition my birthday ever got on Christmas but it was always enough.
At our family Christmas party, the year I turned 16, my parents brought out a decorated birthday cake for dessert. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and I was so surprised and touched that I cried.
Those things aside, if I didn't celebrate my birthday in April, I really wouldn't get to have a traditional birthday experience. So, especially as a kid, I've always loved celebrating my birthday at a different time. Growing up, it usually meant that I got to go shopping with my mom then we got to go out to dinner. When we all got older, we started gathering in the immediate family and all meeting up for our Birthday Dinner.
This year has been no different. Yesterday was April 6th and my birthday has been wonderful!
- First, Shane and I both took the week off from work. Not to celebrate my birthday but just to have a break. This alone was a gift. It's been so nice to slow down the pace and feel a bit rested and not so stressed out all the time. (Although, the thought of my inbox come Monday morning is starting to get to me. I'm going to pay for the PTO, I'm sure.)
- Second, Shane has gone out of his way to make me feel special. He brought me lunch, gave me red roses (I never get flowers.. ever), a coke Slurpee, and a Flip HD Video Camera! Uhm, hello. My name is SPOILED!
- Third, we got to go out to eat with my parents and my sisters which is always a good time.
- Fourth, Lilly gave me a very thoughtful gift. She knew I had lost my ring (my wedding ring replacement since the original doesn't fit) so she found one of her rings and put it in a box and wrapped it up and gave it to me. So sweet and thoughtful. I love that girl!
- Fifth, Shane is taking me out on a secret special date-night tomorrow. My parents offered to watch the kids (since they are the only ones I can leave Allie with at this age) so Shane is taking me out. BUT- I have no idea what we are doing. He won't tell me. Which is very different than in years past. I'm sure we'll do dinner and a movie but where we go will be a surprise. It's fun having something surprising to look forward to.
All-in-all... it has been a fabulous week. My family has made me feel special and loved. It was just what this tired, over-worked mommy's heart needed. So, I've gotta tell you... having two birthdays really is the only way to go. You might want to try it sometime.
Crystal
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