Birthdays and gift-giving?
June 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: 
It’s my 20 birthday this weekend and of my close circle of friends, I remember all of their birthdays and give gifts, because I love picking out individualized gifts they’ll enjoy. It’s just a way of saying I appreciate them on their special day once a year. So, my close friends have this week given me gifts or wished me happy birthday, except for the one who is my very best friend! She knows it’s my birthday, but we’ll be apart over the weekend, so I won’t see her again until next week, after my birthday, but she never wished me happy birthday or gave me a gift. I feel foolish because I truly do value her friendship and I absolutely didn’t give her a birthday gift with the obligation of her giving me one back, but still, I feel hurt. But at the same time, I feel petty – she is a wonderful friend and has given me many intangible gifts through our friendship. I don’t know why a material gift is so important, but somehow receiving it is meaningful to me. Is it wrong that I feel this way?
Possibly Related Posts:
- Personalized Business Gifts
- The Gift of Friendship on Friendship Day
- should i gift her or not? will it damage our relationship?
- A new poem- “Friendship”?
- she is recent friend of mine.if i buy a small gift for her, will that damange our relationship?
Category: Friendship Day | 
Tags: Best Friend, Birthdays, Circle Of Friends, Friendship, Happy Birthday | 
5 Comments »
gift for men
a small gift is ok
gift basket
If it makes you feel better, last year for my 21st birthday none of my family even remembered. I didn’t even get a cake. I also didn’t get presents. Just be happy you have a best friend and such a great group of friends you can be with.
birthday gifts
It seems normal to me to want to be treated special by the people you are the very closest to. It is not being greedy or petty.
There are people in the world that just stink at acknowledging birthdays or any holiday. They don’t mean to be thoughtless they just think ‘I show you every day that I am your friend why should today be different?’.
When you have one of those folks as your best friend you just have to accept them for who they are and go on.
Before I understood this (I am married to such a person) I would get hurt feeling and or ask why didn’t you get me a present which took all the joy out of the moment for me. Now that I realize this is how they are I can expect nothing and once in a blue moon be wildly surprised when the mood to do something for my birthday strikes them.
birthday gift ideas
Is it possible that something is going on with her that you don’t know about? Something that has her distracted?
No, you aren’t being petty, and it isn’t wrong to feel the way you feel. But, if she truly is your best friend, you should be able to talk to her about it. You shouldn’t have to stuff those feelings away.
holiday present
It’s natural for you to wonder what’s going on when your normal pattern of reciprocal gift-giving has been interrupted. However, if your friendship is important to you, you should chalk it up to an oversight or that perhaps something is going on with your friend of which you are unaware. Maybe she forgot. Forgivable, right? Maybe she is under some kind of stress that has caused her to prioritize her life in a different way. Maybe she is upset about something. Or maybe she is waiting for the weekend to acknowledge your birthday. Whatever it is, take the high road. It’s not wrong to feel the way you do, but it would be wrong to get petty about it. If you don’t figure out what’s going on in a few weeks, you could have a calm discussion with your friend and bring up the topic. Perhaps you could say something like, “I was a little worried around the time of my birthday. It seemed like we weren’t communicating like we usually do. Is everything okay?” She may gasp and say, “OMG I totally forgot!”