Family forgets 18-year-old daughter's birthday, quickly purchase a cake at 11pm and laugh in her face

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 24, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

What would you do if someone forgot your birthday?

Birthdays are a pretty big deal, especially when you're young. A year feels like such a long time when you're a teenager, and so much can change. Plus, birthdays are fun when you're a kid. You get to hang out with all your friends, eat some cake, and open presents. It's a special time, and probably moments that you'll remember for your whole life. That is, if you have a family that loves and celebrates you. When you're young, your parents should be the primary celebrators of your birthday. After all, it's an accomplishment for them too. They should be the ones organizing the festivities and keeping the calendar. Maybe they ask you for your input on it, but part of the job of parenting is celebrating your child's birthday. It's in the bylaws. 

Nobody wants to feel overlooked by their family. We all bring something different to the table, and some of us have louder voices than others. Some children have smaller needs and voices, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be celebrated. They deserve to feel special. Maybe it's the one time of year when they get to be the center of attention. You want to feel like your accomplishments are acknowledged, and that people in your life have your back. If your parents don't make you feel that way, then they have failed as parents. 

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  • A woman alone sits at a table with a birthday hat and cake
    via Unsplash+ (Karolina Grabowska)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My family forgot my birthday...

    Am (18F), and my birthday was two days ago, and my family forgot till my aunt called to wish me a happy birthday. So my parents got a cake really quickly at 11 pm, and they were laughing about it like it was funny.
    via watdafaqisuppp
  • PS: My parents are both retired and don't work, so it's not like they just came off a 12 hour shift, and my two sisters are in uni and study like 2 days out the week, and my youngest sister is in summer break, and none of them have exams, so I don't think that they had a decent excuse.
    via watdafaqisuppp
  • So when I blew the candle to a cake I don't even like (my dad always gets HIS favourite flavour every year on my birthday), and my present was a lip gloss and a Dove deodorant that my mom bought and didn't use, I couldn't help but be disappointed. So I took two bites and went straight to my room, while they stayed and ate the cake and laughed like they didn't it hurt me.
    via watdafaqisuppp
  • Now at least one of my sisters felt bad and bought me a game on Steam and some brownies, but everyone else is weirded out that I'm upset and tells me that it isn't a big deal and I should get over it, even though all I've done is just stay in my room and didn't cause any disturbance.
    via watdafaqisuppp
  • And this never happened to any other person in my family, and I've never forgotten any of their birthdays. Now I'm all upset and already stressed because I'm taking my BAC exams two weeks from now, and they're making me feel ridiculous for being upset, and I didn't even throw a tantrum or show any attitude.
    via watdafaqisuppp

  • That's what happened here, though, when a teenager was approaching a pretty big milestone. Your 18th birthday is a big deal, and it deserves to be celebrated. Her parents, though, committed the cardinal sin of forgetting. Who forgets their own child's birthday? That's a pretty big oversight. After they realized, though, they did very little to make it right. The least they could do was over-apologize, but they didn't even do that. They continued to treat her like she didn't matter, which is something that will stay with her for the rest of her life. Read on to see what commenters had to say, and let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Commenters gave their support and sympathy.

    Low-Guidance1684 Honestly it's justified to be - upset as a 32 YO adult my only hope is for people in my life to care about my birthday. It's not even about the celebration aspect like gift-giving and cake cutting, it's about people showing that they care. I'm sorry that your family disregarded your birthday like this.
    via Low-Guidance1684
  • cswright59 NTA. This happened to me on my 18F birthday. Nobody wished me happy birthday so I went out with my boyfriend. Friends of my parents came over to wish me happy birthday and my
    via cswright59
  • parents felt embarrassed and took it out on me when I came home. Later on in life they made excuses to not have a wedding or come to one when I married the boyfriend. And when I called to let them know I was
    via cswright59
  • having a baby, my mother said, "Oh no! Children will only bring you heartache. Be a favorite aunt." You can break the chain and be a good parent to your kids. My grown up kids and grandkids love and appreciate me. I'm 66 but I still remember all the hurt feelings.
    via cswright59
  • beejaye11 NTA-for being upset that they forgot your birthday. We all like to be acknowledged and remembered. Since your family doesn't seem to think it's a big deal that they
    via beejaye11
  • An upset woman sits at a table on her birthday eating cake
    via Unsplash+ (Karolina Grabowska)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • forgot your birthday just forget theirs and if anyone says anything about it, just say I'm sorry and laugh. Two can play the same game.
    via beejaye11
  • No-Satisfaction-3897 NTA don't trust what people say, trust what they do. Now that you are 18 plan your next birthday with people who care.
    via No-Satisfaction-3897
  • Freestila Happy birthday first. Second, NTA. This is verry bad in my opinion. Forgetting a birthday of a friend or a relative, that can happen (as a man this happens more then me
    via Freestila
  • remembering..) but i would never forget a birthday of my family (kids, wife or parents). I mean there are calendars on your mobile phone that should remind you.. Also getting a cake you don't like for your birthday is a big a hole move.
    via Freestila
  • EnvironmentalSir8140 NTA- stop celebrating their birthdays, Mother's Day & Father's Day. Happy Birthday!
    via EnvironmentalSir8140
  • ExplanationThen747 NTA - Happy Birthday btw! Your parents are jerks but you should go enjoy some time for yourself and blow off some steam. Do what makes you happy
    via ExplanationThen747
  • sky7897 Next time just ignore the cake. Don't bother wishing them happy birthday ever again. Maybe even cut contact with them all. I would do that, especially if your other siblings birthdays aren't forgotten but yours is.
    via sky7897
  • AZDarkknight Q: It was your 18th?? Thats a pretty big deal in many countries. NTA anyway but tbh, at 11pm, I wouldnt have been there to accept the cake, Id have been in my room or out with friends once it was clear it wasnt important enough for them to remember.
    via AZDarkknight
  • Livvysgma Your parents forgot your birthday?! Seriously? From here on out, the only ones. you need to acknowledge birthdays for are those who were kind. Your aunt & sister. Although on your father's next birthday, maybe grab YOUR favorite.
    via Livvysgma
  • cake, tell everyone you purchased the birthday cake & put it out at cake time. He grumbles? You thought that was your thing with him. On your birthday, he gets the cake he likes, and on his birthday you get the cake you like, right?
    via Livvysgma
  • Plan something with friends next year, concentrate on your exams & going forward. You have many more birthdays to celebrate. All the best!
    via Livvysgma

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entitled parents birthday teenagers parenting raising teens happy birthday neglect parents Parenting FAILS
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