I have been creating an elaborate list of my random pet peeves since the beginning of the school year. Most of them are minute things that kind of make me cringe, and others are “serious” transgressions that will cause me to question friendships, but I would say that a quarter of this 35-point list is birthday related. I am just not a birthday person. That may come as a surprise to some people; my loud voice and inability to resist talking to any and everyone might suggest that I would love the attention that my birthday would bring. In all honesty, November 30th is my least favorite day out of the 365, though finals week is close competition for that spot. I have shied away from doing anything to celebrate my birthday since 6th or 7th grade but think year being my 18th, my mom would not take no for an answer and insisted I had a few friends over, so this is how I prepared for my 18th birthday.
I feel obligated to share a little bit about why I do not really like my birthday. For one, I spend the entire day feeling as if all eyes are on me. As much as I appreciate people stopping me in the halls to say happy birthday and the hugs that usually come along, I am very easily overwhelmed and get rather anxious at the thought of that many people seeking me out all at once. Not to mention all the people I am not obligated to Snapchat back, Instagram dm, text, call, or even email. I am someone who will completely ghost everyone if I receive more than five Snapchats or messages at a time. I cannot explain it, and I am probably very irritating to those waiting for a response but replying to multiple people at once stresses me out. And all the horrible photos I have ever taken always resurface on friends’ birthday posts just as I have wiped them from my memories. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good party, so long as it is not me throwing it. I do not want to overwhelm myself with too many people, but I always feel guilty for not being able to invite more friends and believe the easiest way to avoid people feeling left out is to have no party at all. Lastly, I hate when people sing happy birthday to me. I realize this is uncomfortable for everyone, but if I were kidnapped and tortured for information, a group of giggling girls singing off-pitch on all different octaves, holding cameras up in my face would have me spilling all my secrets in SECONDS. All that said, I appreciate all the people in my life and the effort they put into making my birthday a fun day for me.
This blog has definitely turned into me complaining about my birthday more than explaining how I prepared for it so I apologize and will be getting back on track now.
- Call your family
When my siblings and I were little, on someone’s birthday, everyone else in the house would wake up very early and barge into that person’s room singing happy birthday (it’s a little more tolerable when it is my family singing.) From that point on, I would get many phone calls where I would answer and have to move my phone away from my ear because of how loudly various family members are singing “Happy Birthday”. I have many relatives overseas so these calls could come at any moment, and I am expected to answer them all. Additionally, I have the same birthday as one of my mom’s brothers, so I am obligated to make one of those dreaded phone calls. It is important to talk to your loved ones on your birthday because they want to let you know they care about you and are grateful you made it another trip around the sun.
- Do something for yourself
I have a wonderful tradition of treating myself to a kiwi strawberry smoothie with tapioca balls every year for my birthday. My sister used to take my brother and me to get these smoothies a lot, and they have become very special to me. I go to Joyee once a year, and it is to get this smoothie; last year on my birthday, both of my parents were out of town, and my little brother had soccer practice, so I went and got my smoothie instead of sulking alone in bed, and it made me feel a lot better. I think it is really important to do something for yourself on your birthday because it is your day, and as much as other people want to make your day great, you know yourself better than anyone else.
- Celebrate…?
Dot dot dot question mark because this will look different from person to person. Some people like to go out to fancy restaurants, others throw big parties, and some people like more intimate celebrations. Whatever you prefer, I think growing up is something to be excited about and celebrate so, even if your mother forces you into it, do something that you will enjoy.
- CHEESEEE!
If your parents are anything like mine, they need photo proof or A) it never happened, and B) their Facebook friends will be very disappointed. Therefore, it is my obligation as the birthday girl (and yours to your parents) to smile and appease their awaiting digital fans. Photos spread faster than wildfire in all of my family group chats and having all of these memories will be something I look back at and appreciate. For now, I will remain irritated by the throwback photos my mom chose to include in her post this year:
Turning 18 is unlike any other birthday (besides turning 21 which I imagine will be WAY more fun). Even though my mom shut down the “skip school and get tatted” idea, I still spend the day reflecting on my life. Next November, I will not have to take my mom’s sticker after she votes. I can buy a lottery ticket even though my statistics teacher would be very disappointed in me, and now I will go to jail, not juvie if I commit a crime! Oh, how I love being an adult.
Hi Lulu! Your blog post was so relatable to me this week because I tend to feel the same as you do about your birthday. But in my case, it has been a bit different. When I was younger I used to love having birthday parties, I would invite my entire class over in elementary school, and would try and convince my mom to always add on more people. I do not know when my mentality of loving my birthday to dreading it changed. Now, just like you, I don’t love to have parties and I get overwhelmed after the fifth call or message. I do not know why this makes me so overwhelmed because the calls are a good thing, but I would rather be the person calling. Also, random thought, you know how sometimes when you ask people what their favorite holiday is and people respond with their own birthday. This has never been my answer. I love how you mentioned that you have a tradition for yourself with the smoothie! This is amazing. I really never have time to do anything for myself since my birthday either falls on election day or a day of tryouts. I would like to start doing something similar for myself!
Hello Lulu! I loved your blog especially because I am beyond excited to be turning eighteen. Honestly I used to love birthdays as a kid but as I’ve grown up I started to resent them. I felt like it was a competition for who had the most fun on their birthday. Nevertheless I have learned that my birthday should be a time to celebrate all the gifts in my life. I have made it my mission to not care what anyone thinks about that. Anyways I love that you also hate making phone calls. Of course I love seeing my family but the filler conversations on the phone are just not my favorite thing to do. But different from you, I love answering people who wished me a happy birthday. It really means a lot to me and makes my birthday feel special. But oh man, the pictures! Our generation knows the pain of embarrassing photos being posted on your birthday. I have definitely sent out a couple of “please delete” texts. Overall preparing for a birthday should be fun because it should be spent with people you love doing things you love. Overall I love your blog ideas and I will definitely come back to this sight in February before I turn 18! Great job Lulu!
This post is honestly one of the funniest I’ve read so far. My mom is also planning to throw a party in April for me when I turn 18. I haven’t had a party in years and I honestly couldn’t care less. I only need one thing and that’s money coming in from both sides of the family. I kind of enjoy getting birthday messages but only from certain people. I don’t get why people I don’t know on snapchat will randomly message me because they searched for the cake icon on one random day of the year. It’s a nice gesture but totally unnecessary. My birthday will be on a Friday so I don’t think I’ll be able to avoid a party that day at all. Money will be flying in from all over the country which is cool but otherwise I’d rather do something on a different day so I can just relax and do absolutely nothing. Speaking of birthdays, I just remembered that my mom’s birthday is tomorrow and I haven’t made a card for her so I think I need to do that and write the same thing I do for mother’s day and all of her other birthday’s again. I already know how the conversation is gonna go when we have to sneak up on her to say happy birthday together.