I used to think that Christmas babies

got the short end of the stick.

Today, December 15th is my birthday!!!  There was a time when a birthday on a Saturday would mean that I would party all weekend!  This year, I am more than conent to spend the day with my family and having a date night which will include catching the movie The Hobbit with my husband!  I used to think that Christmas babies got the short end of the stick, but not anymore.  Towards the end of the year, on my birthday is the perfect time to reflect about the previous years and outline where I want to focus my creative and professional energies during the New Year. 

I used to think that Christmas babies got the short end of the stick, because growing up my mom never had an outdoor birthday party for me, what little birthday gifts I received were wrapped in Christmas paper, I received "combined gifts" for both Christmas and my birthday, and I always felt like the fat guy in the red suit stole my thunder. 

Today, I realize that every year...every day...every moment is a gift that is not promised to any of us.  My birthday is not about gifts or a celebration.  Today, the day following a horrific school shooting in Conneticut, I know that my birthday is an opportunity, however ever humbling is a moment in time....and it's not all about me, and that tomorrow is not promised to any of us. 

If you have a birthday in the month of December, here are some helpful tips to cope with any perceptions that you may have that you are getting the short end of the stick.  This excerpt is from WikiHow:

 Accept that your birthday is competing with an important festive occasion. Part of the disappointment arises from feeling a sense of injustice or deprivation because you feel that you're missing out on what others are experiencing as an individual event for the rest of the year. By accepting that your birthday is sharing a spot with the highlight of the year's celebratory calendar, you can begin to look more positively at getting others to celebrate your birthday more enthusiastically.

Talk to your parents, spouse, housemates or whoever else is responsible for throwing you a party. Given that Christmas seaspmis already busy (and expensive), it's unlikely that a full-blown party is practical. However, there is no reason that you can't organize a special breakfast or brunch or an intimate meal for dinnertime that is focused on giving you birthday gifts, a cake and a few treats that have been purchased or made especially for you.

Put up birthday decorations as well as Christmas ones. There is something decadently fun about doubling up on the celebratory messages and to have both birthday and Christmas decorations around at the same time is a great way to recognize that it's not just Christmas Day but also your birthday.

• Hang a Happy Birthday banner near the Christmas tree.
   
• Keep your birthday cards in a distinct part of the house and request that no Christmas cards be placed in the same spot.

Be appreciative of what you receive by way of gifts. Sure, there will be some less-than-thoughtful people who will give you one gift for both occasions (combination presents) and smile smugly saying "Well, we thought it'd be easier this way." In some cases, perhaps you benefit from this approach because you might receive one much more expensive item than two cheaper and less interesting ones. However, most people will be at pains to give you separate gifts and if you've already arranged for a separate gift-giving time (such as at breakfast or brunch), then this is obvious and easy for everyone to cope with.

Go online and commiserate with other Christmas Day babies. There are plenty of other people in your situation and sharing your online tales of annoyance, woe, irritation and amusement can help salve the feelings that you're missing out on something special.