"Before our children were of school age and we were both busy, working parents, my now ex-husband and I used to move their birthdays to the nearest convenient weekend. In fact, come to think of it, it may not have been the nearest. Just the most convenient - say, after pay-day, for instance. This could be before or after the actual date, depending on whether I was on duty (a reporter), or we had visitors, or it was just going to be better weather for the outdoor party. This neatly avoided the unseemly rush into the marital bedroom on a work day at 5am by an over-excited three-year-old desperate to litter the house with wrapping paper. I don't do 'Happy Birthday' at 5am. Not with any kind of panache, at any rate. This system worked perfectly well until they started school and discovered dates. Now, aged 13 and 16, they are outraged at their parents' behaviour. But I can say this in mitigation: at least we never moved Christmas."