Birthdays: Expectations vs. Reality

Birthdays are often letdowns (as those of us born on holidays know all too well). It’s the one day of the year you get to celebrate yourself, and yet it’s never as great as you think it’s going to be. Birthday parties used to be so awesome when you were six, and each one of your friends brought presents to your dinosaur-themed pool party. Alas, it’s all gone downhill from there. Here are the differences between birthday expectations and reality:

Someone will plan a surprise party

Your friend has been acting shady, and you know why — he’s totally planning a huge surprise party for you. You dress extra nice around your birthday in case that concert they invite you to is actually a party for you. (You’re going to act so surprised when it happens. *wink*)

No surprise party. He was acting shady because he was hanging out with someone and just didn’t want invite you. You spent all week practicing your surprise face for nothing.

You’ll get some great gifts

iPads… money… sweet new toys… the possibilities are endless.

Well, at least you got a gift card from your mom. Yay!

You’ll have an awesome cake

You can’t have a birthday without a cake, amiright? Maybe it will be shaped like you, or have a funny inside joke on it, or be the best tasting thing you’ve ever put in your mouth. Now all you have to do is figure out what you’re going to wish for when you blow out the candles.

Someone stopped by the grocery store and picked up a cupcake for you. At least it’s something. Maybe you should wish for a better birthday cake next year.

People will be excited it’s your birthday

All day, everyone is going to be freaking out that it’s your birthday because you’re really popular and fun. Even strangers on the street are going to stop you and wish you a happy birthday. Your friends are going to drop all their plans in order to hang out with you on this special day.

People put in the minimal effort to wish you a happy birthday. Some of your friends didn’t even take the time to write on your Facebook wall. IT TAKES THREE SECONDS TO DO THAT!

Everyone will have fun

It’s your birthday, so everyone is going to have the time of their life celebrating. It’s going to be so fun that you and your friends will reminisce about this night for years to come.

People look like they felt obligated to come because it was your birthday. To be fair, you did kind of guilt them into it. “YOU HAVE TO COME IT’S MY BIIIIIIRTHDAY.”

Do you ever get down around your birthday? It’s always good to plan something and celebrate, even if you don’t feel like it. And let’s admit it — everyone has super high expectations for their birthdays!