My mom forgot my 30th birthday

A *few* years ago....

I couldn't believe that my mom forgot my 30th birthday. I mean, it is a pretty big birthday. Both my brother and sister got their calls in, and I got lots of other phone calls, cards, and emails from friends from all over the country. (Texts and Facebook and all that stuff weren't around back then- I think only Friendster? ha!) It was my 13 going on 30 birthday and I had a lot of things planned- brunch, flea market shopping, ice skating in Central Park, a pizza party, and then drinks.

California is 3 hours behind- so before 1pm, I didn't really expect her to call me. But maybe when she was done doing all her errands? Maybe in the late afternoon, she'd find some time? Or maybe she was waiting for my dad to get home from work that night, and they could call together. That must be it. My birthday is on April 3rd, and every year my dad makes this joke that it's "Apple Tree" (sounds kind of like "April Three"). I mean, my parents have never NOT called me on my birthday, so why should they stop now? But they didn't call... My parents forgot my birthday.

So, I just waited and the next day, I was convinced that she would call up and apologize for not calling me... Maybe something came up, and she couldn't get to a phone. Nope, not a call that day, or the next, or the next. I talked to my sister a few days later to let her know how the birthday went, and she was so PISSED. If that ever happened to her.... oh boy. So she got on the phone with my mom and demanded that she call me and wish me a happy birthday and how could she NOT call me, etc. Even after that, my mom still didn't call.

I ended up calling my mom a week or two later and it was a very casual conversation. When I brought up the fact that she didn't call me on my birthday, she said, "Oh, yeah, Karen called me and told me I forgot your birthday. Are you mad?"

Of course, I wasn't "mad" per se, but just, annoyed I guess. Like, Karen already told you to call, and you still didn't?!?

So she started getting all defensive. "What's the problem? It's not like you are a little kid. And no one celebrates peoples' birthdays in China. Everyone's birthday in China is on New Years Day- we don't call attention to the day they were born." (Hello, we're in AMERICA... she's very selective with her customs.) "I don't even know when dad's birthday is. He doesn't say happy birthday to me either. Why would I have to say happy birthday to you? Anyway, the only reason you're here is because of me and dad. YOU should call us and say 'Thank You' for having you. Hmmmph, getting mad that I didn't call YOU on your birthday."

Ummm, OK. Tell me how you really feel, mom.