CZ Design

One of the tradeoffs

One of the tradeoffs

Medandylan91

I hate to complain about anything on this most sacred day in the Zielske household.

(Why is March 7 a sacred day around these parts?)

Well it's the Tween Day, you see. The day between Dan's birthday (March 6) and my birthday (March 8).

But before we were Mr. and Mrs. Z., my parents used to send me a card each year after I moved out and carefully tucked into that card was a crisp $100 check.

Yes, I know. Very generous and believe me, I was always appreciative of the gift.

But then something funny happened to my birthday card following October 19, 1991, the day I married the fine young man you see in the photo above.

My check amount was instantly and permanently cut in half.

I still remember my surprise when Dan opened his birthday card and shouted out, "HEY! Your parents gave me a check for $50. What'd you get?"

Sigh. The same thing.

Yeah, yeah… I know. What's his is mine and what's mine is his and blah, blah, blah.

But it still makes me kind of laugh all these years later when Dan opens his card and rubs it in.

Happy Tween Day, indeed.

And no worries, I'll be posting on my birthday. You know me. I could never throw away a golden opportunity to garner well wishes like that.

Because we all know the First Rule of Adult Era Birthdays: Tell everyone you know.

 

p.s. Thanks Mom and Dad. You know I still appreciate it.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. dawn says

    This totally made my morning, LOVE IT!! How sweet is this picture, spitting image of your kids, I LOVE THAT!!

    How fun to have bdays’ together and your story about your mom had me laughing and tearing up at the same time. What great parents you have!!

    My hubby and I have back/to/back birthdays and it took years to explain this to our children, they thought it was planned so that we could be together one day and have the same birthday. They have fun each year making double of everything for us.

    Happy Birthday to you both, hope it’s filled with laughs, hugs, love and great memories.

    Tell your mom she ROCKS just like you do!!

    Reply

  3. Sue S says

    I am joining in to say that it took a full minute to realize this was not an instagram photo of your kids. That pic is awesome. Happy tween day!!

    Reply

  9. donelle says

    As mothers we never get tired of hearing this your beautiful daughter looks just like you. Happy Birthdays!

    Reply

  11. Teri H. says

    I laughed at your disgruntled reluctance at sharing your birthday money with your husband. That is SO me.

    I secretly hate sharing goodies with my kids too. My 6 year old stole my breakfast smoothie this morning. 🙁

    Reply

  13. Becky @ Pieces of my Life says

    Happy Tween Day. That is so funny but my parents give my husband the same amount at Birthday’s and Christmas that they give me. My DH always tells me that they love him more though. Now his parents are a totally different story as they use to give him $1 for every year he was old, that is until he hit 38 and then all money stopped and I have never received anything in the 24 years of marriage from them, but I have their son and that is present enough in my book.

    Reply

  14. Regina White says

    That was so hilarious to me. I know why too cause it would have been the same thing I would have said and felt if I would have opened my card as well. goota love parents though. They are always generous and looking out for us. Great Story and Happy Birthday!

    Reply

  16. Sarah B R says

    Yep Aidan looks just like you and Cole just like Dan.
    My daughter is also like my twin 🙂
    My husband’s parents always get me better gifts… Not on purpose and the budget is the same for both of us but they’ll get the wrong size, cut, color for him and get it just right for me 🙂
    Happy birthday to both of you. Mine is the same as Aidan’s 03/29 🙂

    Reply

  18. Andrea says

    Happy Tween day to you both! My husband and I have the same thing going with our birthdays, but September 13th (me) and 15th (him)! I think we will have to start celebrating our own Tween Day.
    And I love that picture. As everyone else has mentioned your kids could be your twins!

    Reply

  19. Yolanda says

    My husband and I are two days apart, too! January 24th (him) and January 26th (me). When we were dating and showing our IDs to get in bars, the close birth dates (and my husband’s eternal baby face) would make the bouncers take a closer look, assuming our IDs were fake.

    Reply

  20. Amy says

    First, happy birthday!

    Second, my significant other and I have birthdays 2 weeks apart in September. I call it the month of cake!

    Reply

  26. brenda says

    It seems I’m not the only one noticing how much your children look like you. When they close to your age you could get a very similar photo of them together that they could compare to their children some day. And, maybe you should take a current picture of you and Dan so they can do the same several years from now to see how similar they might still look to you both.

    Reply

  33. Tamera says

    So first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Next, my husband and I were married 10/20/1990 – I know a day and a year off, but I think we have almost the same looking picture as yours and Dan’s. Only difference, we had a cocker spaniel (the test child before he proposed) and yet he sported the same hair style as Dan (except his was blonde and lightly bleached). Those were the days!! Happy birthday to you both!

    Reply

  35. Barb in AK says

    Cathy, Have you scrapped how much your kids look like their parents?? I wonder if their personalities follow suit, too?
    Have a very happy birthday on Thursday!

    Reply

  36. Mandy says

    Reading this a little late, but had to comment because today (the 7th) was/is my birthday. My husband’s is on the 13th and so after we got married, our parents began celebrating “our” birthday. Notice no s on birthday. Only, I still think he gets the better deal, because “our” birthday comes early for my parents and he gets his gift before or by his actual birthday. For his parents (or mom), it comes “late” so I have to wait for his celebration to go blow my wad. 😉 Wah, wah, wah. Right? Hope y’all had great DAYS!

    Reply

  39. THE Megan says

    I have to ask: When people tell you that you and your daughter look alike, do you say in your head: ‘what they hell are they thinking? She is WAAY more beautiful than me?’ I get that all the time, and I legitimately don’t see it. Yes, we look alike, but she is STUNNING. I’m 47. 😉 I always tell people : ‘She’s everything I was supposed to be’ 🙂

    Reply

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