A woman has been left devastated after her partner of 30 years forgot her 60th birthday. She took to Reddit to vent her frustration about the situation and ask advice about her next move. ‘It’s my 60th birthday today, and my partner of 30 years has not acknowledged it.
Should I tell him?’ she titled the post on the Ask UK subreddit. ‘It’s my actual birthday today, and whilst we have planned a big party for next weekend, when I woke up this morning I expected a “Happy Birthday!” and a smile.’
‘I didn’t get anything. He started my coffee but he does that almost every morning. At first I thought maybe he forgot but now I am thinking that he thinks he doesn’t have to say anything because we are having a big party this weekend.
‘Am I being too sensitive? Should I tell him? If so, how?’ Hundreds poured into the comments to share their thoughts on how she should approach the upsetting situation. ‘I’d have thought if you’ve been married to someone thirty years you’d know how to talk to them,’ one wrote, adding: ‘Personally I’d see how long I could leave it before they realise.’
‘I’d make a joke of it. “I can’t believe they moved my birthday!” Or “I saw on the TV we should ask easy questions to check for dementia- I’ll ask you first, when’s my birthday?”‘ a trickster suggested. ‘I’m going to say the absolute minimum I’d expect for ANY birthday is my wife wishing me a Happy Birthday. Don’t let it fester and ruin your day – just ask him about it,’ a third chimed in.
‘He’s handed you the best birthday present of all – the opportunity to use this against him for the next twenty years. I’d be rubbing my hands with glee. Happy Birthday!’ a glass-half-full commenter offered.
‘Happy Birthday. Go out and buy a large cake. Eat it all yourself. Nobody need ever know,’ someone else recommended. The woman seemed open to this plan, responding, ‘There is a Costco not that far away. Go big or go home.’
Another suggestion put forth a particularly crafty solution: ‘Purchase this “Acknowledge Me” t-shirt of WWE wrestle Roman Reigns. Then write “Birthday” on a piece of card and use some tape to stick on the t-shirt. “Acknowledge Me Birthday.” Then just wear it around the house.’
To this, the woman responded in seeming seriousness, ‘This may work.’ But, luckily for her, it turned out she didn’t need to go through with any of the advice she’d gotten out of the thread.
She shared in a follow-up comment: ‘UPDATE: He just came up to my home office (I quickly minimised this window) and gave me a big hug, admitting he had forgotten because he was so focussed on both work and next weekend’s party.
‘He apologised sheepishly, which was exactly the best outcome possible. Now I have both my birthday acknowledged as well as a fine story and/or bit of ammo to be saved for another day.
‘So there you go. I’ve cancelled the “acknowledge me” tshirt (sic) order, and shall now share my Costco cake with him instead of eating it from across the table, glaring.