A couple has admitted they lie to their children about the day their birthday falls on every year.
Abbie Guy, 26, from Nottingham, and her husband Callum, 27, a Carlisle United footballer, made the decision to ensure both parents could be present on their children’s special days.
The couple have two children – Ava, five, and George, three – but Callum’s strict work schedule means he is often training or playing a match on their birthdays.
Rather than let this get in the way, Abbie said they decided to simply tell the kids that their birthdays are on a different day, when she and Callum aren’t working, so they can do something fun to celebrate.
Although the couple has yet to be discovered by their children, Abbie understands that their ruse will not last forever.
Abbie Guy, 26, from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, and her husband Callum, 27, a Carlisle United footballer, admit they “lie to their children” by telling them their birthdays are on a different day each year.
Abbie, who is a stay-at-home mum, said: ‘It must have been Ava’s second birthday when my husband couldn’t be there because he had an away game.
‘That’s when we got started. We didn’t want him to miss out on anything again and we didn’t want Ava to miss out on having her dad there on her birthday either.
“As they get older, I realize we won’t be able to do this forever. However, while they are so little, we want to make things as magical as possible with the whole family together.”
Abbie said the idea came from her mother, Carla Bentley, 49, who had a demanding job that often meant she couldn’t be present for birthdays.
Abbie said: ‘So we started moving birthdays around so we could all celebrate them together, with my mum and stepdad there.
‘It was Ava’s fifth birthday on August 13th. Callum was at work because there was a game, so we told Ava her birthday was the Sunday before.
‘On Sunday, Ava woke up and opened all her presents, we had a big birthday party with 20 of her friends at a playground and a family dinner at night.
‘Callum’s parents came to celebrate, she received all her presents and cards – it was her birthday.
The couple have two children – Ava, five, and George, three – but Callum’s strict work schedule means he is often away training or playing a match on their actual birthdays.
Abbie said they decided to simply tell the children that their birthdays are on a different day, when she and Callum are not working, so they can do something fun to celebrate.
‘Then on Tuesday, the day of her actual birthday, we made a nice day of it and went out to dinner with my friends.
“But we didn’t exchange gifts or cards or anything and I didn’t say ‘happy birthday’ or anything like that.”
They tend to move Ava and George’s birthdays to Callum’s days off, whether it’s the closest one before or the next one.
Abbie shared the idea on her TikTok account, @abbieguy, and received nearly 500,000 views and 500 comments in response.
She said: ‘Of course, the video received mixed reactions, but overall people were quite positive.
‘I had a lot of people say, ‘Oh my God, why didn’t I think of this? ‘ and NHS workers and other people in demanding jobs shared their experiences, such as celebrating Christmas the next day.
The couple said their children have yet to expose their lie, but she understands it won’t last forever.
Abbie said the idea came from her mother, Carla Bentley, 49, who had a demanding job that often meant she couldn’t be present for birthdays.
It was Ava’s fifth birthday on August 13, but Callum was at work so the couple told Ava her birthday was the previous Sunday and threw her a Barbie-themed party.
‘I think people generally understand that a child would prefer to celebrate their special day with both parents if they can.’
Abbie and Callum have been ‘lying’ to their children about their birthdays for three years and said they will continue to do so for as long as they can.
Abbie said: ‘Ava and George are still very young. I could tell them it’s December now and they’d say ‘OK’. Dates don’t really mean anything to them at this age.
‘Ava knows her birthday is in August, but beyond that, she just doesn’t know. I’ll keep doing it without any problems as long as I can.
“It’s like ‘no harm, no foul.’ I honestly think that’s the best thing you can do to make them have the most magical day.”
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