What to do if your family ignores your birthday?

[karan]

I think you should understand that your brother are busy within their family and if they forget to wish you then you should not be angry and should call them with their family for a dinner or a small gettogether so I think you should take some intative to get close with them and clearly understand their problems also.

[caledonia]

If my birthday comes, it is up to me if I'm going to celebrate it or not. I am the one who will plan for my birthday. But, I always celebrate it since it is only once a month. However, it is still a great feeling if you have a surprised party organized by someone. I once have a surprise party by my friends and it is really fun and I also feel important, but it is just a 2 hour celebration because I have a plan for myself too.

[TNShannon]

If your family has ignored your birthday for this long, no amount of cajoling, begging, or guilt-tripping is going to make them change their ways. This is the way it is, and though it can be hurtful, you can't expect changes to happen at this late date. Everyone seems to not only be comfortable with the way things are, but they go so far as to defend themselves against their bad taste and terrible behavior.

However, that is no reason to snivel and whine. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but you're a grown-up who can handle doing something special for yourself if no one else is going to do it for you. Take yourself out to a nice restaurant, buy something you've always wanted, and otherwise mark the day with something you enjoy.

So far as wanting friends without kids so you can have the attention you crave on your birthday...not everyone with kids is as selfish as those people in your family. Painting all parents with the same brush is not only unfair to parents, but speaks volumes about your biases. That doesn't put you in a good light.

Have you ever considered that perhaps by asking people to acknowledge your birthday, and harping on the fact that you never get presents or cards or other things, might make those around you even LESS likely to care? When someone whines to me about not getting something, I'm not usually inclined to change the situation.

Just a thought.