Some people know the struggle of absolutely loving and hating the month of their birthdays. Some people hate theirs because it falls in the summer when everyone is out of town, and some people hate it because it falls on a school day. But being a December baby could not confuse my emotions more. Here are the pros and cons to being born at the best, and the worst time, of the year.
Pro: We get more gifts than our siblings around Christmas.
We receive more gifts this year than most people because of our birthdays and Christmas combined. It has its perks.
Con: We only get gifts once a year.
Early December babies, I don't feel as bad for you. But mid-to-late-December babies, your birthday gets mixed up with Christmas and I feel your pain. If you're like me and your birthday falls on Christmas eve, I definitely know what you've been going through your entire life. It's especially awful when people try to give you one gift for both Christmas and your birthday. Not that birthdays and Christmas are all about gifts, right?
Pro: December is our favorite month.
We've learned to love it through every birthday and Christmas celebration. Our birthdays are always associated with ice skating, Christmas-light seeing and all of our favorite Christmas music and food. December is unique to other months in so many ways. It just feels like a magical time, which makes our birthdays even more special.
Con: It is also our least favorite month.
It's always cold, and we never get to wear our favorite party dresses unless we want our legs to freeze off. Every once and a while, we're snowed in on our birthdays. So, yes, sometimes, it really does stink having your birthday during a month this cold and miserable, but it's something we've had to get used to.
Pro: It can be really easy for people to remember your birthday.
Because it is so often associated with Christmas, it's easy for people to remember our birthdays most of the time, especially mine being a holiday.
Con: And sometimes, it's the easiest birthday to forget.
My family gets so wrapped up in Christmas that sometimes it feels like my birthday isn't as important as it would be if I didn't have to share it with a major holiday. My family has only forgotten it was my birthday once, and it only lasted for about an hour after I woke up, but I still live with the fear that it will be forgotten.
Pro: No school on your birthday.
If you're lucky enough to have one of those December birthdays that happens during winter break, you've never had school on your birthday.
Con: But, no school on your birthday.
I always wonder what it would be like to be able to see more people on my birthday. It being a holiday, people are always busy with their families. I've always thought it would be kind of fun to have school on my birthday and be able to celebrate with more people.
While there are some cons to having my birthday fall on the day before Christmas, there are enough pros to being a December baby that make me realize I wouldn't change this for the world.
