Sharing a Birthday With a Relative
There are 365 days in a year. The odds are definitely against having a baby born on the same day as yourself (the parent), a sibling or other family member / relative. Yet, I find myself surrounded by people who share the same birthday as another member of their family. I have friends who share birthdays with one of their children. I even know siblings who share the same birthday and I'm not referring to twins. ; )
On a personal level, my grand daugther was due to be born on March 13th of 2006. Her actual birth was on March 8th. Had she been born on March 13th, she would have shared the same birthday as her cousin and her aunt. How odd is it that one family could have three family members sharing the same birthday? One would believe that with 365 days, the odds of landing on that one particular same day wouldn't be likely...yet look at the scenerio I just said. It amazes me!
I thought it would have been pretty cool had they all shared the same birthday. My daughter, on the other hand, was not too pleased about it. She felt that having to share a birthday with another family member, especially as a child, took a little away from them. She believes that the celebration should be all about you on your birthday and that a child shouldn't have to share a cake or have a joint party because they will somehow be slighted. Needless to say, she was overcome with relief when my grand daughter was born on the 8th instead!
Now, granted, millions of people share the same birthday across the world. However, those millions of people don't belong in the same immediate family. I wondered why my daughter very much did not want her child to share the same birthday as another family member....what made her think it would be so "slighting" in the first place? Perhaps it's because she was born on New Years Eve herself and has always disliked that she shared her birthday with a holiday. To me, a New Years Eve birthday is awesome! I mean, come on, there is ALWAYS somewhere to go or something to do. My daughter, however, has always felt that it took away from her celebration, if you will. I guess that plays a role in why she didn't want her daughter to have to share a birthday with anyone close to her.
All of this pondering made me question how many people feel the same as she does. If you had the choice, would you want your child to share the same birthday as you or another family member? If you didn't have a choice in the matter, would you be upset in some way? Would you prefer having the birthdays a few days apart rather than on the same day?
I'd love to hear from you!
On a personal level, my grand daugther was due to be born on March 13th of 2006. Her actual birth was on March 8th. Had she been born on March 13th, she would have shared the same birthday as her cousin and her aunt. How odd is it that one family could have three family members sharing the same birthday? One would believe that with 365 days, the odds of landing on that one particular same day wouldn't be likely...yet look at the scenerio I just said. It amazes me!
I thought it would have been pretty cool had they all shared the same birthday. My daughter, on the other hand, was not too pleased about it. She felt that having to share a birthday with another family member, especially as a child, took a little away from them. She believes that the celebration should be all about you on your birthday and that a child shouldn't have to share a cake or have a joint party because they will somehow be slighted. Needless to say, she was overcome with relief when my grand daughter was born on the 8th instead!
Now, granted, millions of people share the same birthday across the world. However, those millions of people don't belong in the same immediate family. I wondered why my daughter very much did not want her child to share the same birthday as another family member....what made her think it would be so "slighting" in the first place? Perhaps it's because she was born on New Years Eve herself and has always disliked that she shared her birthday with a holiday. To me, a New Years Eve birthday is awesome! I mean, come on, there is ALWAYS somewhere to go or something to do. My daughter, however, has always felt that it took away from her celebration, if you will. I guess that plays a role in why she didn't want her daughter to have to share a birthday with anyone close to her.
All of this pondering made me question how many people feel the same as she does. If you had the choice, would you want your child to share the same birthday as you or another family member? If you didn't have a choice in the matter, would you be upset in some way? Would you prefer having the birthdays a few days apart rather than on the same day?
I'd love to hear from you!
Posted by The Diaper Baker at 3/5/2010 10:03 AM 
Categories: Children, Baby, Births, Miscellaneous, For Mom
Tags: parents relative family sharing birth births birthday siblings birthdays
Categories: Children, Baby, Births, Miscellaneous, For Mom
Tags: parents relative family sharing birth births birthday siblings birthdays
Hi there!!
Yes, I actually would LOVE to have shared my birthday with my daughter. In fact, if I didn't have a scheduled C, my youngest probably would have had a good chance.
And, my oldest, I did schedule her birthday on her uncle's (my brother's) birthday. My mom, oddly enough, was not too thrilled. My brother was ecstatic about sharing his birthday with his niece. I thought it was super cool about sharing the same day.
I could have made it for the days after as it was a scheduled C-section as well, but felt that to have them share the day was a special bonding for the two of them.
Thanks for your fun question.
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I wouldn't mind either way, My sons birthday is March the 18th and mine is the 28th. I know that he would mind when he gets older because he would not want to have a party at the same place and have all of mommy's friends at his party instead of more of his friends. I do think he would be more happier if it was just a celebration for him. My daughter's birthday is on 7/6 and my grandma's is the 7th. Everyone told me in the hospital (family) why couldn't I try to hold her in one more day to have her born on grandma's birthday. I do believe everyone would of liked her to be born then...but they just come when they want to...
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My daughter was due in mid-August, and I have a few family birthdays that month too. I was really disappointed that she wasn't born on the 5th like my dad, but she was born on the 9th like my grandmother. I was very happy about it and I felt like they had another connection on top of it being her great-granddaughter. My cousin was born on our grandfather's birthday, and another cousin (his brother) was born on the same day as his death. I also had a friend whose two boys had the same birthday, 2 years apart!
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When I was expecting my first daughter, she was suppose to be born around June 18th. When she didn't arrive my mom says why don't you wait until my birthday 7/11. I said no way LOL, she was born June 26th and weight 7 lbs 11 ozs. I said is that good enough for you and we both laughed and she said yes.
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I recently had the same fear had my daughter been born on her original due date she would have been very close to my sons birthday. she was due the 9 th of march my sons birthday is the 3 rd of march and my mother in laws birthday is march 14. so i was worried that she would be born on one of those days and i felt that while it would make parties easier it would take away from her personal day. So i have to agree with your daughter. Also bella was born 5 days befor my birthday and though it may not have really bothered me it might have eventually bothered her. So i think it is important for them to have their own day. My son shares the same birthday as one of my close friends daughter and though they are 5 years apart it is hard to plan birthdays..lol that everyone can attend.
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My son who is now 34 was born on the same day as my step-mother. At the time I thought it was going to be so fun, but I was very wrong. As the years went by she got less and less pleasant about aging, and therefore anything we did to recognize her birthday seemed to backfire because it served to remind her she was aging, but if we ignored it, she was angry that we weren't fauning over her
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We have many shared birthdays in my family. First off, 3 of my 5 siblings were born on the 4th of July, six years apart (1948, 1954, and 1960). My oldest child was also born on the 4th of July (1993). Two of my other children also share a birthday (Sept. 9, 1999 and Sept 9, 2001). My 2001 baby was NOT induced - it was a surprise having him arrive on that day. Finally, my mother and I share a birhtday on Oct. 10. I have always LOVED sharing a birthday with my mother. In our family these shared birthdays have always been extra special.
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