You lie down to fall asleep then it hits you like a ton of bricks. You check your phone calendar. You pull up Facebook events, and there it is... It’s their birthday, and you completely forgot. You pull the covers over your head as if they were worn as a cloak of shame. Your immediate reaction is to ignore it. Instead, you lie there, eyes open, trying to figure out what to do next.
Ok, you forgot. We have all been there. That doesn’t make us bad people. Tardy and forgetful- but not bad people, right? Life got busy. You had too many things on your to-do list, or maybe you forgot to make a to-do list altogether. We can’t remember everything. The moment of realization is punishment enough. it is like a rush of regret takes over your body. Sure, it’s just a birthday, but it is their birthday.
Upon coming to the realization that the day or too much of it has passed, consider your plan of action. Ignore it, admit to it or fake it till you make it. Ignoring it will often make it worse. Unless that person hates birthdays, but let’s be real, they must still be upset that you forgot.
Owning it- owning it takes a level of guts that few can muster up. Depending on your relationship with the person, it could be blown off or blown up. This is usually the best approach. You forgot. Everyone does. Deal with the blow back and move on. Faking it till you make it is another approach. Send their gift late and make a joke of it. Sometimes owning up and making light of the situation might just be what the doctor ordered. Unsure of it all, we want to help with the best last-minute gifts for the birthday you forgot.
Candy Baskets
If you are having to put together a quick last-minute gift for a birthday or a simple “I'm sorry” gift for being late, a candy basket is a sweet way to say happy birthday- even when you forgot. Let them know you were a “sucker” or a “dummy” for forgetting their birthday with an arrangement of suckers or DUM DUMS.
Show them how “sour” you feel with a basket of all the sour candies you can think of. Have fun with it and use sour patch kids as a play on words. Sour than sweet- now you are changing your ways. Give them a free punch with some sour punch straws.
Take a ride on the sweet side with all the sweetest treats. “It was a journey to get to your birthday” with skittles at the end of the rainbow. Top it off with some gold Werther’s Originals. Marshmallows can play as clouds. Pair them with a smore’s kit. The options are endless, but candy baskets are always a hit.
Spa Baskets
“It’s time to treat yourself. I’m sorry I forgot to.” A luxurious spa basket is the perfect last-minute gift for a birthday you forgot. It is simple to put together, and everyone appreciates a little pampering. The contents of your spa basket can be a DIY basket with lotions, body washes and bath bombs or a go treat yourself basket with spa gift cards and a gift card to their favorite lunch spot.
Spa baskets are great last-minute gifts because they can be given to virtually anyone and are as simple as running to a store and putting it together. Many spas and bath shops offer pre-made spa baskets. You can throw in a gift card, a note and a soft blanket, and you’ll be good to go.
Have fun with a spa kit when you forget a birthday. Make it a “forgive me” basket. Add some fun jokes. Tell them how you know they are mad, but you hope this helps. You may not be able to take back the fact that you forgot, but you can try to make up for it with a thoughtful gesture. A spa basket gives them a positive takeaway.
Flowers
Roses are red. Violets are blue. I may have forgot your birthday, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Okay, you forgot. You forgot to call. You forgot to write a Facebook post. Life gets busy. Sometimes it is not as easy as driving to their house, gifts in hand, ready to apologize.
For those long-distance relatives or friendships, it hurts your heart a little extra when you forget a milestone such as a birthday. Dropping everything and driving to see them may not be an option. Flowers may be a beautiful and thoughtful gesture that can help make up for missing a birthday.
With every variety of flowers, there is one that can be sent to convey any message. Flowers help shorten the distance. They are a great option for birthdays- belated or not. If you missed a birthday and decide to fib, having flowers delivered become a great excuse for why their gift was late. If you won’t tell, we won’t tell. Our florists at 1-800-Flowers Palmer Florist in Westchester, IL, can help spread birthday cheer. It is that simple.
Birthdays means more to some than others. However, knowing someone cares about you means the world to anyone. Everyone deserves to feel appreciated, especially on their birthday. If you forget someone’s birthday, consider making it up to the person. Anything is better than nothing.
If you decide to move forward, just know you may have some blowback. A simple happy birthday text or a card with a meaningful message can change a person’s day. Sure, as busy as life gets, birthdays become a last priority. When, in reality, the most important times in a person’s life is the simple moments spent with the people we care about. Setting aside time to celebrate another year of life is not only the least you could do; it is the most you can do. Anytime you can make a person’s day, it becomes a milestone in both their life and yours.
If you forgot a birthday, don’t worry. It happens to the best of us. It is how we react to life’s slipups that make us who we are. People understand that life gets busy. Show them that even during life’s busiest moments, there is nothing more important than showing them what they mean to you. A happy birthday can go a long way because appreciation is fuel for a better tomorrow.