April 1964 was a very good month for my parents. And other sets of parents lucky enough to get pregnant then or April of any year.
Their offspring weren't as lucky. We're the infamous December Birthday Babies. Some of us are known as Christmas Babies, with birthdays that fall on or close to December 25; but January Birthday Babies report they're in the same cradle.
On a good day ask me, like folks do, "How do you like having a birthday three days before Christmas?"
"Well, as a child it was difficult. But now, my husband and kids make a big deal out of it so it's okay."
On a bad day, "It stinks, thank you very much."
"Oh but WHY?" they gush. "I think it'd be so special!"
Special? Picture this. Your child's birthday is in April. I send my kid to your kid's party with a gift wrapped in Christmas paper. In April. You think those moms aren't going to talk? The gift is a Christmas tree ornament. Now the moms are definitely talking. The kid is crying. No one thinks anything special about my wrapping paper, my gift or me.
Rule #1 for giving birthday gifts in December: Never use Christmas paper.
For a child, a Christmas birthday can be traumatizing. Just ask my therapist. It shapes how you view anybody's birthday, at any time of the year, for the rest of your life. Your birthday happens over Christmas break, so you don't get to take cupcakes to your classmates, wear the Birthday Crown or be line leader. If your parents can manage a party during the holiday hoopla, it will be small. All your friends have already left for Detroit to see Grandma.
The most well-meaning friends and relatives forget December birthdays. And even if they remember, they're out shopping, out of town and out of money.
For a little kid with a December birthday there aren't enough holidays. You get all your gifts at one time during the year. Then, without fail (because you're a kid, remember) March through June roll around and there'll be something you're just dying to have. A new toy, a bike, a set of Clairol brown fleece wrapped gentle steam hot rollers. What do your parents say when you ask? "That's for a special occasion. Like your birthday." or "Remember that when you write your list for Santa." Eleven months between gift getting is an eternity for a child.
One of the perks of getting older was my calendar of holidays expanded. I started dating Scott and celebrated Valentine's Day. He gave me a watch. I'd never gotten a watch before that wasn't in a promotional Christmas gift box.
We married and gained an anniversary to celebrate. He looked at our newlywed closet and commented, "I thought all women had tons of clothes. What gives?"
"It's summer. I have no summer clothes because my birthday's in December. This winter we'll need to buy a bigger house just for the sweaters."
Giving birth added Mother's Day to my calendar. I'm enjoying celebrating occasions more than one month out of the year so much I'm creating new ones. Come January my hamster is going to have the best birthday party ever.
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