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People’s feelings about their birthday can differ quite significantly: while some want it to come and go as quickly as possible, others spend countless hours planning a big celebration.
The latter was the case with this redditor and her daughter’s sweet 16. Together with her daughter and other family members, the OP was planning an extravagant party, as per a tradition started by the birthday girl’s grandmother. However, one family member wasn’t cooperating, as she broke the one rule the 16-year-old asked guests to follow.
RELATED:
The 16th birthday is an important milestone for many teens
Image credits: Vidal Balielo Jr./Pexels (not the actual photo)
This birthday girl had one rule for her sweet 16, but one person refused to follow it
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)
More people feel positively or neutral about their birthday than dislike it
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
“It’s my birthday!” she squeals, the second the alarm goes off at 00:00. “It’s still my birthday!” she yells as excitedly, upon waking up in the morning. If you’re anything like Lily from How I Met Your Mother, you are probably well familiar with this feeling. And if you know the feeling, you, too, probably throw yearly birthday extravaganzas to commemorate the world being blessed with your presence for another year.
A survey carried out by YouGov found that while not necessarily to the extent of annual birthday extravaganzas, more people than not seem to feel positively about their birthday: 19% say they love it, 24% say they like it, and 47% feel neutral about it. As for those who aren’t as fond of the one day of the year – 7% say they dislike it, and 4% say they even hate it.
The survey found that most people feel happy and excited on the day of their birthday, though roughly one-in-five respondents admit feeling indifferent or calm. Some, unfortunately, don’t experience positive emotions on said day, as they feel anxious (11% of respondents), disappointed (9%), or even angry (3%).
YouGov’s survey found that people commemorate their birthdays in different ways. But when it comes to (nearly) annual traditions, roughly half of respondents say they thank God for being alive and spend time with their families. Other common birthday activities include opening presents and cards, enjoying a special meal or cake, and reflecting on life, among others.
The 16th birthday has long been an important one for young people
Image credits: Chad Populis/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Even if people enjoy celebrating their birthdays, not every single one of them is usually equally significant; for many people, such numbers as 18, 20, 21 or round numbers like 30, 40, 50 might bear more importance than the rest. In some countries, like the US, for instance, the 16th birthday is one to be celebrated, as it symbolizes the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Often referred to as the ‘Sweet 16’, this particular birthday has long been a significant one, especially among young women. In a New York Times article from 1978—nearly half a century ago—the director of adolescent psychiatry at New York Hospital, Westchester Division, Cornell Medical College, Dr. Everett Dulit, noted that this particular celebration is essentially a social ritual.
“Unlike a bar mitzvah, for example, which derives from primitive rites de passage in that it marks the onset of puberty, the Sweet Sixteen is primarily social in meaning, more like a debutante ball. A party for young females, it probably originated as a way of introducing the girl to the task of being a hostess, to the acquisition of social skills,” Dr. Dulit told the New York Times.
While it’s safe to assume that nowadays the Sweet 16 is no longer celebrated as “a way of introducing the girl to the task of being a hostess,” it is still a big deal for many, including the OP’s daughter. In her family, it has become a right of passage, as throwing an extravagant party for her granddaughters’ 16th birthday is a tradition started by her grandmother. The birthday girl’s mother emphasized the importance of the celebration in an update she shared on the situation in her family.
The mom shared more details about the birthday
Image credits: Jamie12087
Some netizens sided with the mom and daughter duo
Others shared a different opinion
Some netizens believed that everyone was a jerk in the situation
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What do you think ?
Panda-sized Potato 8 months ago
Literally only one rule. All the other rules were bent/broken. It's not even a difficult rule. The grandmother and aunt are trying to gaslight into breaking the last rule. They TA in this, and, no surprise, so are the YTA/ESH, who are arrogant, elitist, and just plain dumb. They call the daughter a "bridezilla" over a single simple rule. They are also too focused on the money, ignoring the problem. And the biggest AH is the one YTA that s***s all over the daughter for liking Nightmare Before Christmas.
🇺🇦 🇵🇸 TribbleThinking 8 months ago
I agree. It's some kind of DELIBERATE weird power move by the grandma and aunt, nothing else.
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Earonn - 8 months ago
I don't care whether the party seems "too big for a mere birthday" or if "the rule is stupid". There's no reason to break it, and if the aunt thinks she dies if she wears a different dress, then for goodness sake, she can stay away. I have it up to here with these "I ignore your rules and gaslight you later" freaks.
Panda-sized Potato 8 months ago
Literally only one rule. All the other rules were bent/broken. It's not even a difficult rule. The grandmother and aunt are trying to gaslight into breaking the last rule. They TA in this, and, no surprise, so are the YTA/ESH, who are arrogant, elitist, and just plain dumb. They call the daughter a "bridezilla" over a single simple rule. They are also too focused on the money, ignoring the problem. And the biggest AH is the one YTA that s***s all over the daughter for liking Nightmare Before Christmas.
🇺🇦 🇵🇸 TribbleThinking 8 months ago
I agree. It's some kind of DELIBERATE weird power move by the grandma and aunt, nothing else.
Load More Replies... Earonn - 8 months ago
I don't care whether the party seems "too big for a mere birthday" or if "the rule is stupid". There's no reason to break it, and if the aunt thinks she dies if she wears a different dress, then for goodness sake, she can stay away. I have it up to here with these "I ignore your rules and gaslight you later" freaks.
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