Celebrating Half Birthdays??

Well I can speak from personal experience ~ my birthday is the day after Christmas! My mother always did a great job of keeping it totally my own day ~ never combined with Christmas. I never even thought about it growing up. It was my birthday. Plus it seemed we always had extra family around that were visiting for Christmas and would bring me a gift or money that weren't always around at my sisters birthday (in May) so I felt extra special :) I'm 45 now and can honestly say, it's still MY birthday and have never wanted it any different ~ Hope this helps!!

H.
Huntsville, MO
www.showmehomebiz.com

My birthday is 2 weeks after Christmas ( me and Elvis!!) My parents always celebrated my birthday on my day and made me feel special. I think it would be confusing to a young child...they wouldnt be able to make the connection between their birthday in December and a party in June.
Why not just let them have a get together with their friends in the summer....it doesnt have to be a birthday party...just a fun time with their friends. Don't make it about gifts...just let them enjoy themselves.

it's a nice thought, but it's nutty. 2 of my best friends have their b-days on Xmas or the day after. We always celebrated it separately from xmas and i always made it a point to give them a separate b-day gift.

My honest opinion.....it sounds CRAZY!! I hope their isnt a half birthday party involved! Personally to me, my kids are spoiled enough with Holidays and Birthdays. Celebrating half birthdays?? If its something you really want to do, then go for it, but if I ever got a half birthday party invite I would crack up!

Good morning S.! FIRST, there is NO REASON why people should be so rude about how YOU want to do something with YOUR family! You can voice your opinions, but don't be rude. But I know some people are just like that with everything, lol! Now on to the question: I want you to know that I think it's a GREAT idea! My niece's B-Day is right around Christmas and she actually gets TIRED of opening presents! And just opens them and puts them down like, will this ever end??? I'm going to mention this to my sister! You do what's best for your family! I've learned that. We are starting to homeschool. And found out that it doesn't matter what someone else does. It's YOUR wonderful family! I think it's awesome! I think we'll also start doing some sort of half B-Day! At least cake and ice cream! My daughters B-Day falls sometime on the weekend we celebrate the 4th of July! And it would just be fun to show them they are special and it's their day on another day other than their B-Day! We do that anyway! But we will now do it on their "half birthday"! Thanks for the idea:)! Have a WONDERFUL day girl!

My husband's birthday is two days before Christmas and he's complained that he never really got to have a birthday; his family wasn't the best and any gifts he got they combined with Christmas presents. So when we got married I excitedly suggested to him we have a big birthday party on his half birthday, but to my surprise, he was offended. His birthday is December 23, he says.

I imagine a kid would be more likely to enjoy a half-birthday, but I thought I'd share an adult's perspective.

Hi S., I think celebrating your daughters 1/2 birthday in the summer with a full blown party with friends would be great. Have cake and ice cream and the works, instead of doing it around Christmas. On her birthday you could bake something she likes, like brownies or something and have a family celebration with you, your kids and grandparents. That way she still gets gifts on her birthday, but still has the whole party experience when kids will be around to celebrate with her. I know this is late, but I do hope it is helpful. I just think celebrating 1/2 birthdays are great especially if they are so close to Christmas. We celebrate our girls' halfs by splurging on a cookie from a specialty store. Something my dad started when they were younger. Good luck and God Bless.

My birthday is a few days after Christmas and it would have made me mad to do the half birthday thing. My actual birthday was the important thing. (my brother's birthday is the 23rd, so our family had it twice in a week)My parents always made sure our christmas presents were christmas paper and our birthday presents were birthday paper. The family always came over for cake and ice cream, and it was still special, even close to Christmas.

What a great idea! My three kids all have birthdays in December. With those and Christmas, it's a real crack in our budget!!! I am definitely going to be talking to hubby about this idea. Plus, we could have swimming pool parties and outdoor stuff that we can't do when it's 30 degrees outside!

My oldest son's father lives in Wisconsin, I live in Missouri, for the first 13 years of Tylers life he lived with me and only in his later years did he spend a few months visitation in the summer with his father...they celebrated half birthdays with him then ( his birthday was in December) and now that Tyler is living with his dad and I will be on the end of only seeing him in the summer I will probably adopt this half birthday tradition as well. Some things I have heard of are making a half cake = ) only putting half the number of candles on the cake...I would keep it restricted to family members, but that is just my personal opinion. I know kiddos with winter birthdays miss out on doing fun summer month party themes like out door BBQ's and swim parts etc.
Good luck!
B.

As for my opinion, I think the "1/2" bday is silly. If it were meant to celebrate the bday a different time of the year, then she would have been born then. My daughters bday is christmas eve, and we always do her family party about 2 weeks before christmas before all the hustle and bustle. She has a party with friends when school resumes do to most of her friends going out of town over the break and the holiday.

I wish someone would have thought of that when I was growing up. My birthday is the day before Christmas and I always got the combination presents of Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas. I never really got to have birthday parties because everyone has family plans around the holidays. So a half birthday would be able to have in the summer and not during the holidays. Besides, there is so much more to do in the summer time then in the winter. I honestly like the idea. I don't think many people understand what it is like to have a birthday so close to Christmas, it seems to get lost in the festivies of the holiday.

Hi,

We celebrate my son's half birthday. It is in November but money is always tight then so we celebrate his half birthday in May which is also like a end of the school year party for his friends.

Wow I just read the earlier replies..My friend celebrates her sons half birthday because it is close to Christmas which it what gave me the idea to do this for my son. He is 7. The parents and kids love to come to the Half Birthday Party for my son. They do not care what day the party is they are just there to have fun..It has been a success for us and can also be for you..as long as the kids continue to have fun we will celebrate the half birthday.

I make custom cupcakes if you decide you would like to celebrate. www.crumbscustomcupcakes.com
THanks!!

I think that is a wonderful idea. I have inlaws that do that since her birthday falls right on Christmas. They do a summer birthday party and have cake and ice cream while the family is already together. This way its in the summer to and you have a lot more ideas on what to do for her birthday! I don't see a problem with that. I thought it was a cool idea when I first heard of them doing it.

I have three kids all with birthdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have always wanted to celebrate their half birthdays with their friends in the summer and have just family on their real birthdays, but my husband doesn't like the idea of half birthdays. I think it is great idea. Enjoy the celebration no matter what you decide.

I would let a kid have a get together in the summer. Like a party without a cake. Go to a themed restaurant, set up a slip n slide in the back yard, meet at a pool etc...

I think that you are much too busy to worry about half birthdays!!! I did that for 6 mo but that is all. It seems that today people are trying to out do each other on bday parties for their kids. once they hit seven I think that should be the last yearly party. Still do a family celebration..but we started only doing friend parties for 10, 13 , 16 and maybe 18 if they wanted it. Really do it up big, they should be in the planning process and it will mean much more to them. Parties can be expensive to do them each year. I am not saying to ignore their bday...just be a smaller creative. Take them and one of their friends to a hotel..... But do not worry about half bdays.....maybe it is Hallmark instigating this!!!!!!

My boys were born 3 days before Christmas. We do not celebrate half birthdays. It may sound weird, but I don't want our pictures, videos, etc. to be wrong. It is tough getting a time when our friends and family aren't having gatherings for Christmas, but I've come to the realization that whoever can be present will, and whoever can't won't. We have some friends that do a half birthday for their son, which is fine, it's their choice, but I just don't want to do it for my boys.
On the flip side, I do not like when people try to combine their birthday and Christmas gifts. I wouldn't give my neice a birthday present in July and say "oh, by the way, that's your Christmas present too." I just don't agree with that. The kids can't help when their birthday is; no matter when it is, it is their special day.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

I had never heard of celebrating half birthdays until my kids started school.....And then it was in regard to summer birthdays......

I am guessing the schools figured out it was crazy having all the kids with summer b'days bring their treats the last day or week of school - and instead started letting them bring treats on their half birthday.

We did have a 1/2 b'day for my dd when she was 5 and wanted a swimming party at the outdoor pool-- her b'day is in Jan! But all we did was bake cupcakes and let all her pool friends know that we would be bringing treats for her 1/2 birthday.There were no formal invites and no presents. We brought cupcakes for the lifeguards too!

My birthday is 2 days after Christmas and I STILL celebrate by half birthday! No way could I have a bday party in December with everyone travelling for the holidays. Having a party in June allowed more friends to come and the weather was more conducive to having an outdoor party (easier on my mom). Besides, kids get so much for Christmas, it was always nice to spread out the presents. We always went out for dinner on my "real" birthday and would have cake but the party with friends and my presents from everyone were always in June. Hope this helps!

My 2 oldest sons birthdays are the first of Dec. & we always had a birthday party together for them the first of Dec. which was no problem. My 3rd sons is Jan 3rd which was a problem so we had cake for him on his real birthday & had his birthday party the end of Jan. which worked well for him his friends & us.

I teach at a Montessori school and we hold a Celebration of Life for each child on their birthday. As our elementary program doesn't operate in the summer we suggest to children with summer birthdays that they could have a celebration of life for their half birthday (or 3/4 birthday or 1/3 birthday, whatever works)so that they can have a Celebration of Life. My daughter's birthday is in July so we always did her celebration of life at school in January. But we didn't do anything else for her half birthday because there wasn't a reason to. She got plenty of attention for her real birthday.

My birthday is December 13, and my sister's is December 30th, so our parents were always very good at separating them from each other and Christmas, but we got lots of presents from family that were Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas to both of us which is a complete ripoff when you're a kid. I always talked about doing a half birthday party, but ended up forgetting. :) I think it's completely fine to do it like you are suggesting - have the party on the half bday, and just do cake to recognize it on the real one. Good luck!

i've never heard of this, although i guess you have a legitimate reason to want to mark her own special day aside from christmas, but to me it sounds kind of just like an excuse to indulge a kid needlessly. besides, would you do it for your S. daughter as well? your neice? where would it stop? would everyone get "two" birthdays, or just your oldest daughter? i don't know...seems like a slippery slope to me. just my two cents...

We celebrated half birthdays when the girls were young. Both my dtrs have summer birthdays. This way they could have a school birthday party like the rest of the kids. We then would celebrate their actual birthday with family and friends in the summer.

I started celebrating half birthdays when my daughter was 6 months old and then it started a family tradition. My son was 7 1/2 when my daughter was born, so it was a big transition period for him, then she got a half birthday. So I did a half birthday for him that year it has morped into one of their favorite traditions we have. We do not go all out, it is just a special day for them. No gifts, no party, we just go out for dinner of their choice, and either I make a dessert of their choice at home, or we go get ice cream. It is mainly just my way of making them know they are special, since one was born in Jan, the other in August, one half bday is weeks from the other' real bday. It is just really fun. I do want to comment on the posts of you do not have time to do this for your child. I am a single mom with 2 businesses that I run by myself, but I can always find time for my children. They are young for such a short time, that going the extra while is worth it in the end. I know all to well, as my 7 year old when I started this is now 15. He still loves it and it keeps me close to my teen, which is hard to do. Hope she has a great warm weather birthday!!!

My BFFs and I used to celebrate our half birthday's when I was in grade school...it was something we did between ourselves (I'm sure it was nothing our parents would have condoned...lol). But I can certainly see where if you have a birthday around a major holiday (especially X-mas) or the middle of summer where school friends may not be around to celebrate it would be extremely beneifical. I would say, if you are involving school friends then they should know that this is a 1/2 birthday and that there won't be an official party for the real birthday when it comes up to it (otherwise most parents would feel bilked). Otherwise, just keep it a small private affair.

I think there is a time and a place for these and certainly with as many homes that have divorces and 1/2 time custody and things I could see the benefits to doing this and creating a special day...my husband generally got 2 birthdays growing up (one was his adoption day and the other was his actual birthday). I think it's frankly as personal as each of your family traditions...do what works for you.

I have a similar situation as my triplets Birthday is a week after Christmas. I personally have allways celebrated my half birthday (cake and special dinner, maybe a present)...and planned on passing the tradition on to my kids.

My daughter's bday is xmas eve and I always considered doing 1/2 bdays for her. I waited until last year (right before she turned 7 1/2)and had her make the decision. She started complaining to me about her birthdays for a couple years, feeling like her christmas and birthday are put together. I have heard this from adults that they felt the same way as children growning up. I always made sure I did bday seperate, and wrapped in bday paper, YELLED at my mother when she used xmas paper when my daughter turned one. (she never did that again :-}) SO, needless to say I am all for 1/2 bday, my daughter JUMPED at the idea and was so excited. She understands what it means and she was the happiest kid ever. In a way I wish I started her 1/2 bdays sooner, but it's really awsome that it was a choice she made. That is another way you can go. You can alway wait until she's a little older and see what your daughter wants. But what child doesn't want a summer bday... :-0

A birthday is a birthday. My brother's bday is close to Christmas as well. If it were my child, I would let my family know as tactfully as possible that her birthday is HER DAY. I'd throw a party ON THAT DAY (or as close as possible) so she knows she is special and NEVER get her a combo gift myself. You can't control what others buy, but you can let them know what YOU are doing, and perhaps they will follow suit. As far as finances go, you KNOW when her birthday is, so you can BUY gifts throughout the year when gift giving crunch time season is not in full swing, then GIVE THEM on her birthday.

If you feel the need to have a "half-birthday" party for her friends that may not be around due to holiday travels, I have heard of people serving a HALF cake. Bake a single layer cake, cut in half and make two layers. Everything is themed "HALF." My brother never had anything like this and he turned out a very well-adjusted, content man.

Best wishes.

I can see where it could get out of hand--something to consider. But we started celebrating half b-days when our girls could understand it. It was when being 4 and a HALF was a big deal, not just 4! LOL! It's just our immediate family. We just do cake (or dessert of their choosing) and for fun wrap up some of their own toys--kids just like opening gifts and cracking up laughing when it their own stuff! I sometimes give something simple that I was going to give them anyway like a pack of stickers or socks. I just wanted them to feel special and on their real birthday it usually is so busy and we share the day with extended family and friends. This is a way to have some of our own family connecting. It's our little tradition, we just like celebrating the God-given gift that they are! Whatever you do--make it meaningful and special for you and your family.