Women at Work

I don't expect for anyone to make a huge deal about my birthday (party, presents, etc.) but I do expect for those I work closely with, particularly the ones I regularly lunch with and am friends with outside of work, to come by my office or at least call me and say "Happy Birthday".  Maybe even buy me a card.

My birthday was Tuesday and it was like any other day.  I talked to one of my closest friends three different times but it wasn't until the third that she finally said anything.  My own mother even forgot until I reminded her.

Anyway, one of my other co-workers/friends didn't say anything to me at work.  Instead she waited until she got home that night and posted a message on my FB wall.  Today, I saw her and didn't go out of my way to make small talk so she sent me an e-mail asking me "What's the deal".  I responded that I was having a bad week and that it hurt me a little that she didn't come by my office or call me to say "Happy Birthday".  In her reply she started off by saying she was sorry but ended saying "Seriously, we are adults and we all have issues we are dealing with".

Am I wrong to be hurt?

I don't think you were wrong to be hurt. But did you say something...like leading up to your birthday, did you make mention(s) of it? Or on your birthday did you say anything like, "I'm treating myself to X today because it's my birthday" even in casual conversation? I ask because to be totally honest, with most people at work who I don't know super well...even if they mentioned their b-days a month ago, I won't remember on that exact day without their doing or saying something to remind me.

I usually ask off for my birthday and plan something special myself, for example this year my birthday comes on a Tuesday when my husband and friends have to work...but I'll have a "me" day and then dinner with my husband and maybe some friends. That way I am not disappointed if no one beyond my husband/parents remembers the day...and leading up to it I'll mention, "I'm taking next Mon & Tues off because it's my birthday".

Not saying you did anything wrong, just my POV and one way to handle the topic.

HTH!

I sorta get what you're saying....be/c this happens to me just about every year!

My birthday is days before Christmas.  So with the holidays & everything it tends to get lost in the shuffle & no one ever does much, if anything at all.  I work in a very large company but there are only 10 of us in my department.  So for everyone's birthday, we bring in food (snacks, bagels, baked goodies)  and decorate that person's desk.  I've been in this unit for 4+ years....they've only done it for me once...and yet every other month when its someone else's birthday I GET OUT THE DECORATIONS & SEND OUT THE EMAILS, ETC... 

You're friends reply that she's got a lot of other things going on and she forgot is EXACTLY what I would tell her when her birthday rolls around. 

Happy belated!!!

While this is slightly off-topic as it does not apply to the office...I feel a little bit the same way, like my b-day gets overlooked each year by some of my friends.  DH & I have a Halloween party every Oct 31 and our friends come, but hardly anyone mentions that my b-day is Nov 3, just 3 days later.  Once we even sent out invitations calling it a combination Halloween/birthday bash but it didn't change anything really.  

I rarely get cards or anything at the party.  I'm not looking for a gift grab, don't get me wrong ~ but it would be nice to hear "happy birthday" from friends at the party.  Even my best friend usually forgets it's coming up but then she remembers and gives me a card or small gift around Nov 10! LOL  I don't really care all that much but it IS annoying.  Especially because for DH and our other friends with "non-holiday" birthdays, we have bbqs or parties specifically for their day.

I hear ya!!!

I used to get a box wrapped in holiday paper with a birthday card slapped on top & it was my Merry Christmas-Happy Birthday gift!   As a adult, I get it but as a kid, it really sucked!! 

I am 18 yrs and ONE DAY EXACTLY older than my little sis.  So my birthday is 12/21 & hers is 12/22!!   I go out of my way to make it special for her be/c I remember what its like!

When I had kids, I tried to make sure there b-days weren't near holidays. DS is in July & DD is on....FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND!!!  Thankfully, her daddy doesn't mind sharing!!!

Oh...and...my wedding anniversary is the 30th of October (referred to as Goosey Night here in the Northeast)!  We get cards for each other but dont' really buy presents so much anymore!  We're lucky to go out for dinner these days!

Happy Birthday ... A few Weeks early!!!