It’s your friends birthday. She doesn’t drink (or at least very little and not often), and you couldn’t pay her to dance. She has kids but no babysitter access. She does however want to celebrate with her husband. What do you get her?

You’re tired so you decide to just ignore her all together but did send out a memo to everyone saying she wants everyone to go out to the bar a few days after the fact. You never actually asked her (just told her) so she better cancel her plans. You decide on the bar too, she doesn’t need a say. So what if she won’t get to be with her husband and who cares if the kids get up a few hours after you’ll drop her off at home. Just to make sure your friend has fun I’ll invite my co-workers whom she’s never met.

Can you tell I’m a little bummed about how my closest friends have decided to spend MY birthday? I feel so guilty for dreading it. I feel really ungrateful. I know they mean well and I love them for it.

That aside the plan is that Hubby, Thing 1, Thing 2 and I are going out to dinner when Hubby gets home from work tonight. I’m looking forward to that since we’re going to my favourite place. After that maybe Hubby and I will rent a movie or something.

Does anyone have any idea how to get out of the bar trip later this weekend without offending my friends? Since Hubby can’t come I’d be happiest staying here with everyone. If we magically got a babysitter I’d like to go to this dessert place I love, it has booze there too to satisfy the drinkers.

I know I sound really grumpy about my birthday, I get rather depressed like this every year. I’ve only really had a handful of birthdays I’ve enjoyed. My grandfather died on my 7th birthday. I was at the age where I really felt it as well as the pain of those around me. Since then I expect the worst so I’m probably my own worst enemy this day. How do I actually start enjoying my birthday?