Mum angry with sister-in-law for ‘hijacking’ son’s party with her child’s half-birthday

Are 'half-birthdays' a thing?

That's what one mum has asked the internet after her sister-in-law insists on celebrating them. Birthdays can be stressful (and expensive) enough so we're not sure why you'd want to put the extra hassle of another one on yourself but it appears that some families are into them. Taking to Mumsnet, the woman said that each year the sister-in-law 'hijacks' her son's birthday by making it her own daughter's half-birthday. "Without fail every year Sil (sister-in-law) makes a big song and dance about her dd (dear daughter) celebrating her 'half birthday' on ds (dear son's) birthday," she wrote on the parenting forum. "She also celebrates her dd birthday on the original date. "Aibu (am I being unreasonable) to think she’s batshit to hijack her DN (dear nephew's) birthday?" Worse, the sister-in-law didn't acknowledge the son's most recent birthday, though her husband did by text. "They don’t expect presents at least not from our side of the family but she makes a big thing of going out and celebrating it and tagging family members in her arrangements," the mum added. A number of other Mumsnet users said they'd seen others celebrating the tradition.

"Seriously it does seem to be creeping in. The people I know that do it have half a cake and everything!!" "I know people who celebrate half birthdays. Utterly batshit."

But many agreed that having a half-birthday was odd.

"Sounds like she can’t bear the focus not being on her or her child." "How much more allowance must be made for the self indulgent, overgrown kids be given to wallow into themselves."

What do you think - should families celebrate half birthdays? Do you know anyone who does? Let us know in the Facebook comments.