The first year I celebrated my birthday without my mother, I turned seventeen and went out with my best friend and her family to dinner.  My mother didn't want to plan anything and C's family had offered to take me to the Spagetti Factory (which I totally loved at the time).  I figured I'd do something with my mom that weekend.  Not a big deal right?  Um, wrong.  A very big deal.  When I came home, she flipped out about how ungrateful I was and that she brought me into the world not to celebrate my day with another family.  That wasn't the worst of it as she continued to remind me of this incident for many birthdays to come, including her own.

Fast forward ten years and my mother unbelievable starts forgetting my birthday. She was usually just off by a day or two but then one year she totally forgot to call for two weeks. When she finally did, I was beyond being bummed and kind of just in shock.

"HOOooooney, it your mommmy.  How is baby?"  she said brightly.

"I'm okay, busy with work.  And you?"

She laughed nervously, "Okay mommy...mommy know is so, SO bad.  But I remember before, just forgot on the day and mommy busy with temple. You know temple. Okay?? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! You want some money?"

I stared at the phone in disbelief, "OMG mom, I do not want money!!!"

I called her last night because it's been a good month since I've seen my parents. And I wanted to remind her that today was the day, just in case.  She called this morning to sing me happy birthday.  Except she only knows the first line of the melody and proceeded to repeat that over and over.  Thanks mom. :)

Originally posted on kimmie.vox.com