Why Christmas Day birthdays are awesome

This is a particularly nostalgic time of year. As I glance at the Christmas tree adorned with decorations from five years ago, I can’t help but smile. I remember that time so clearly, I suspect I always will. The first dump of snow arrived early December and I had to work from home for several days as we were snowed in. Two weeks later I went on maternity leave.

Although we didn’t know whether we were having a boy or a girl, we got to know POD pretty well before she appeared. We had our first scan at 5 weeks when she was just an amniotic sac. But a scan three weeks later showed she had developed into a fetal pole and, most importantly, she had a heartbeat.

We had multiple scans from then on. The most incredible one of all was an ultrasound of POD’s brain and heart cavities which took place at St Thomas’s in London. The sonographer was fascinated with what she saw and was proud to show us her organs – her heart beating away right before our eyes. POD arrived at 10:46am on Christmas Day 2010 – the same day she was due. When we arrived home, the ground was still dusted with snow. It’s a cliche I know but she will always be the best Christmas present ever.

Mention a Christmas Day birthday however and the standard response is often the same “oh that’s rubbish, you didn’t plan that well did you?”. No we didn’t. There was zero planning involved. But if we had planned it better, we wouldn’t have got to hear the Salvation Army sing “Good King Wenceslas” outside the delivery suite would we? After 47 hours in labour, I’m quite sure that was the moment that produced some big happy tears.

Christmas Day birthdays are like any other birthday in that how good they are depends on how much effort you put in. We’ve all had uneventful birthdays at one time or another. At least on Christmas Day, you’re guaranteed to have no school (or work), oodles of fun and you can pretty much do as you please. If you think about it, it’s actually a brilliant day for a birthday! Last year POD spent most of the day dressed like a fairy accompanied by a Frozen wand and a Peppa Pig umbrella.

Wherever we are, we like to make POD’s birthday really special. There’s always a room free of baubles and tinsel, her presents are wrapped in birthday paper and she has a proper birthday cake. POD also has an ‘un-birthday’ party in the Summer which means she has a whole day devoted to her. She gets to have the best time with all her friends, just like everyone else does. So actually if you think about it, having a Christmas Day birthday is really pretty awesome isn’t it?