Happy Birthday, Lucy!

February 9, 2018 4:35am 4:35 am

These photos are so beautiful! I love old pictures.

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Alice

February 6, 2018 3:52pm 3:52 pm

Late to the party but happy birthday Jo, to you and your sister :)
Hope you had a wonderful day x

I’m the Alice that wrote about the Chinese custom, and I do it, and I’ll send flowers now too, that’s a lovely tradition. It doesn’t work between every mother and child relationship, but it just about about does for mine.

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Aneliya

February 6, 2018 6:46am 6:46 am

Happy Birthday, Joana and Lucy! I hope you have a great and glorious year, tons of love and happiness. And sweet escapades here and there!
btw, I am Aquarius, too !!! Same date even :D (Happy Birthday to me , too :)) That is why for so long I am reading your blog and it fits me just fine, even though I am single, no children, not from USA, not even living there, but I keep reading it and find it supernatural and interesting :)
xoxoxoxox

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Nina

February 3, 2018 12:01am 12:01 am

Happy birthday to both of you. Hope its a lovely year filled with magical moments.

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Maywyn

February 2, 2018 12:03pm 12:03 pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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Arzoo Amer

February 2, 2018 10:52am 10:52 am

Happy belated birthday Joanna! Hope this year brings you so much love and light! <3

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Karen

February 2, 2018 8:48am 8:48 am

Happy birthday! I have to say that the girl on the left looks exactly like Anton and the girl on the right looks exactly like Toby. :-)

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Catherine Keene

Reply to Karen

February 2, 2018 11:20am 11:20 am

I agree completely. Came into the comments because I knew I couldn’t be alone!

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Amy

February 2, 2018 8:43am 8:43 am

I love the comments from the women regarding honoring their mothers on their birthdays. My son’s birthday is upcoming, and I am always so emotional nostalgic when my kids celebrate another year. Mothers have so many memories of those days. I love the idea of honoring the entire family.

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Maelle

February 2, 2018 4:55am 4:55 am

I’m late to the party but happy birthday to you and Lucy!
Also, i just wanted to comment to say that you mentionned sending flowers to your mother on your birthday a couple of years ago – or was it that i read Angela’s comment? i can’t really remember – and i thought that was so sweet that i started doing it as a family tradition :)

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Maria

February 1, 2018 8:40pm 8:40 pm

Happy birthday! Glad you could enjoy a nice celebration! ??
Bittersweet day for me, as it would be my dad’s 72nd birthday. He passed away 3 months ago. I liked knowing you share the date. Keep doing your awesome job ??

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Natalie T.

February 1, 2018 6:24pm 6:24 pm

Happy birthday to you and Lucy! How sweet are those pictures?! Looks like your love of bread (and all pleasures Parisian) have not changed! Same here! Hope your dinner was wonderful and send us an update on those cleaned bathrooms. Ha ha

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Dayna Armstrong

February 1, 2018 5:27pm 5:27 pm

Happy birthday to you and Lucy! I think it’s so lovely to share a birthday with a family member.

I share a birthday with my mom and we always try and celebrate together (we live across the province). Last year I told her I had to work but flew in and surprised her for her 60th. It was so much fun! Funny story, as she was in labour giving birth my dad mentioned that it was her birthday and it turned out the be the delivery nurse’s birthday as well!

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Heather

February 1, 2018 5:15pm 5:15 pm

Happy birthday to you and your sister! (I swear, 40 really is soooo much better than you think it’s going to be.)

I sent flowers to my mom for one of my birthdays years ago (pretty sure I stole the idea from somewhere) and she still talks about it.

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Marta

February 1, 2018 3:03pm 3:03 pm

Happy birthday to you and your sister! Hope you both had an amazing day! :)

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chika

February 1, 2018 1:44pm 1:44 pm

Happy, happy belated birthday to you and your dear sis, Lucy!!

Boy, it’d be amazing to think of how many thousands of people would show up to a birthday celebration for you if there were to be an open party where any of your readers/fans could attend…your incredible popularity is not to be underestimated! (I’d def be there ;))

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Nicole

February 1, 2018 12:22pm 12:22 pm

Happy birthday, Joanna and Lucy! My birthday is January 31st too ? I celebrated with my husband by having dinner at Ava Gene’s. We’ve lived in Portland for 4 years now, but I’ve been dying to go there ever since you raved about it after your family visited out here. Last night I finally got the chance and it definitely lived up to the high expectations! I hope you and your sister had delightful birthday celebrations!

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karen

February 1, 2018 12:19pm 12:19 pm

Happy, Happy Birthday to you and Lucy!

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Claudia

February 1, 2018 12:04pm 12:04 pm

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

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Sandra

February 1, 2018 11:54am 11:54 am

Happy birthday, Joanna and Lucy!!

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Katie

February 1, 2018 11:50am 11:50 am

Happy Birthday to my favorite “virtual buddy”! ;) P.S. I can totally see both Toby and Anton in you!

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Rachel

February 1, 2018 11:35am 11:35 am

Now making a note to buy my mom flowers on my birthday. What a great idea, thanks!

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Maia

Reply to Rachel

February 2, 2018 7:47pm 7:47 pm

That is a lovely idea. I will do the same.

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cathyv

February 1, 2018 11:28am 11:28 am

In the top photo: Toby on the right, Anton on the left. Genetics are truly strong! Happy Birthday.

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Cynthia

February 1, 2018 11:17am 11:17 am

Happy Birthday to you, Joanna, and Lucy, too. The photos are adorable. Your coat and hat look very similar to one I made my oldest daughter and her younger sister wore it too.

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Lee Leroux

February 1, 2018 10:43am 10:43 am

Happy Birthday to my favorite blogger in the whole world, hope your birthday is as lovely and fun as you are

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Brie

February 1, 2018 10:10am 10:10 am

Happy Birthday, Joanna!!! Thank you for all you do! Your blog and this community feeds my soul!! :) xxoo

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Brittany

February 1, 2018 9:38am 9:38 am

As a mom of 3 year old twin girls, I LOVE reading about your relationship with Lucy. I’m fascinated by adult twins (and am always the obnoxious lady who, when told that someone is a twin, asks “ooooh- are you and your twin close?!”) I hope that my girls grow up close yet with independent personalities, like you and Lucy have. Happy Birthday to you both!!

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Brittany

February 1, 2018 10:28am 10:28 am

how cool that you have twins! i love being a twin :)

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Meg

February 1, 2018 9:31am 9:31 am

Happy Birthday!

Who was the photography enthusiast growing up? So many great shots and back in her day of film nonetheless.
So sweet.

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Meg

February 1, 2018 10:29am 10:29 am

my dad was really into it. i’m so grateful to have such nice baby photos!

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Maggie

February 1, 2018 9:12am 9:12 am

Joanna, I’m also a Jan 31 birthday. My first few years of reading I forgot we shared the day until reading a post. But yesterday morning driving to work I thought to myself “Oh, Happy Birthday to Joanna and Lucy too!”
(And Justin Timberlake, of course.)
I hope your day was wonderful :)

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Maggie

February 1, 2018 10:29am 10:29 am

happy birthday, maggie!!! hope you had a great day yesterday.

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yordanista

February 1, 2018 8:28am 8:28 am

Happy birthday! I loved learning about traditions around celebrating your mum on your birthday, especially since I was born on my mum’s birthday so she basically gave up her own birthday for my entire childhood. Now might be the time to return the favor =)

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Franzi

February 1, 2018 7:47am 7:47 am

Happy birthday!

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Lisa

February 1, 2018 7:41am 7:41 am

Happy birthday!

As a mother, I love that idea of giving flowers to your mother on your birthday. As a child I’m less fond of it

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Allison

February 1, 2018 7:37am 7:37 am

Happy Birthday to you both! It is amazing how much your kids resemble you both – strong genes! From strong women! xo

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Lindsay

February 1, 2018 7:29am 7:29 am

Happy Birthday to you & Lucy??

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Britney

February 1, 2018 7:11am 7:11 am

I cannot believe how much your boys look like you guys! I see both Anton and Toby up top and Anton in the bottom picture! CRAZY.

PS- as a mom of a toddler boy that is my TWIN isn’t it THE BEST surprise that your boys look like you?! I never expected it. Idk why lol

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Britney

February 1, 2018 10:30am 10:30 am

YES!!!!!! i love it so much. and i was surprised too, haha (duh)

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Ana

February 1, 2018 5:38am 5:38 am

Such a sweet post and I love Toby’s helpful move, ahah :) Happy birthday Lucy and Joanna! Have a great one! xxx

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Ana

February 1, 2018 10:30am 10:30 am

spoiler alert: he did not actually clean any bathrooms, hahahaha.

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Annie

February 1, 2018 4:14am 4:14 am

Happy birthday to both of you!

(The comments about thanking mothers on your birthday are bittersweet – for some of us who had engulfing mothers and who are still trying to reclaim our right to exist as a separate person, this kind of gesture is hurtful and counterproductive. Being selfless can only be meaningful when it becomes a conscious choice, not a punishment for existing…)

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Annie

February 1, 2018 10:31am 10:31 am

thinking of you, today, annie xoxo

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Annie

Reply to Annie

February 2, 2018 7:39am 7:39 am

Thank you Joanna, that’s kind of you :)
It is a difficult subject as “bad mothers” are a bit of a taboo topic and often people assume it’s the children’s fault if the relationship is not warm and loving. But your blog is one of the few places where people open up about things like that, like the post a while back about people’s relationship with their parents as adults. I remember reading comments that made me feel less lonely, so thank you for letting people use this space to voice different opinions and experiences!

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Stephanie

Reply to Annie

February 2, 2018 11:02am 11:02 am

Hugs to you ❤️

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Celine

February 1, 2018 3:59am 3:59 am

Happy birthday Joanna and Lucy!

I read your post ‘thoughts On aging’ again, and it totally resonated with me!

I live your blog. We can tell you write with your heart!

Reply

Celine

Reply to Celine

February 1, 2018 4:00am 4:00 am

*love*

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Chloé

February 1, 2018 3:21am 3:21 am

Happy birthday Joanna & Lucy ! You two were the cutest babies ❤️

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Nigerian Girl

February 1, 2018 2:45am 2:45 am

Happy Birthday, Joanna and Lucy. Here’s to many more wonderful years. Sending love, light and tons of blessings to you two and your families.

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Marcela Makinen

February 1, 2018 1:58am 1:58 am

Happy Birthday! I have only recently in the last couple of years brought flowers to my mom at her workplace on my birthday and she absolutely loves it! In my opinion, my birthday is a celebration of not only my arrival but everything my mom went through to bring me here and I could not be more grateful to her!

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mihaela

February 1, 2018 1:29am 1:29 am

Happy birthday to you and your twin sister!!!

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Kanga

February 1, 2018 1:27am 1:27 am

Happy birthday Joanna!
I was really interested in read the menu of that restaurant!!!
What did you order?
It all looked so delish!
And as an Aussie I was interested to to see it said it was a ‘no tipping restaurant’!
xx

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Kanga

February 1, 2018 10:32am 10:32 am

we really went for it and got the fried vegetables followed by cacio e pepe and carbonara. GUT BOMB but so worth it! :)

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Isa

February 1, 2018 1:14am 1:14 am

Happy birthday! It is so sweet how Lucy (?) Looks just like Anton in the first picture. Stunning!

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Isa

February 1, 2018 10:32am 10:32 am

lucy is on the left, i’m on the right, curious to hear who you think looks like anton! :)

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Molly

Reply to Isa

February 1, 2018 10:48am 10:48 am

I agree! My first thought as well!

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Kellyn

Reply to Isa

February 1, 2018 11:28am 11:28 am

I agree that Lucy and Anton look so similar in that first photo!

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inbal

February 1, 2018 1:01am 1:01 am

happy birthday fabulous ladies!!

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Anna

January 31, 2018 11:55pm 11:55 pm

Happy birthday to Lucy and you, Jo! I’ve read your blog for years and it is a big slice of joy in my day. I love the community you’ve built and how reliably wonderful your articles are. I can’t tell you how many books, toys, parenting mantras, etc. I have and use because of you and how many times reading one of your posts has helped me think a little broader and kinder. Thank you for all you and the entire team does.

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Anna

February 1, 2018 10:33am 10:33 am

that means so much to me, anna, thank you so much for saying so. xoxo

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Lia

January 31, 2018 11:49pm 11:49 pm

Happy birthday! Celebrating my son’s first birthday today as well. He is also a twin but his sister was born 3 minutes after minutes after midnight, so she has her own birthday (and birth month!). We will celebrate her tomorrow…

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Lia

February 1, 2018 10:33am 10:33 am

oh my gosh, that is so cool, lia!!!!!!! i love that!!!!! i’ve never heard that before and that is really remarkable. you must have been excited when they were born at those exact times :)

Reply

Megan

Reply to Lia

February 1, 2018 5:19pm 5:19 pm

My younger brothers are twins with different birthdays – April 1st (11:56 pm) and April 2nd (12:01 am). We celebrated each of their birthdays with cake. It was so fun! Twin #2 claims it was his first April Fools’ joke :)

Happy belated birthday, Joanna!

Happy (belated) birthday to your twins, Lia!

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Morgan

January 31, 2018 11:48pm 11:48 pm

Happy Birthday!
“I have loved spending the last 39 years on the planet with you.” *swoon*
My fraternal twin daughters are two and a half and my heart flutters at the thought of them feeling this way at age 39. Twins are such a special gift. And yes! Thank you to your mama, too. Carrying, birthing, and raising twins is unique in and of itself.

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S

January 31, 2018 11:27pm 11:27 pm

Maialino is the BEST! A good friend launched her restaurant management career there, and the culture is good like the food. So jealous, enjoy!

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Yassy

January 31, 2018 11:18pm 11:18 pm

Happy Birthday! Thank you for creating this place of wonder, wisdom and fun on the internet.

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Katie

January 31, 2018 11:00pm 11:00 pm

Happy Birthday to you and Lucy from a fellow fraternal twin married to an identical twin!

Reply

W

Reply to Katie

February 2, 2018 1:28am 1:28 am

OMG! Did I write that? I’m a fraternal twin married to an identical twin! But here’s the kicker: my twin sister is married to a (fraternal) twin as well!

Also: Happy birthday, Joanna and Lucy!

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Lisa

January 31, 2018 10:52pm 10:52 pm

Happy birthday to both of you! I turned 39 last week and I have to say – I am loving this age! I feel more at ease in my own skin than I ever have.

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Lisa

February 1, 2018 10:34am 10:34 am

same!!!!

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Jody

January 31, 2018 10:41pm 10:41 pm

Happy Birthday Joanna & Lucy! Xo

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KimKay

January 31, 2018 10:38pm 10:38 pm

PS- Happy Birthday from another January birthday girl.

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KimKay

January 31, 2018 10:37pm 10:37 pm

I was displaying a book today at the library where I work.
The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum
It’s a sweet kids picture book that I think you would enjoy.

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Emily L

January 31, 2018 10:36pm 10:36 pm

Happy birthday, Jo! May this year be your best yet.

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Jaci

January 31, 2018 10:35pm 10:35 pm

Happy birthday to you and Lucy, Joanna! I so look forward to checking your blog every day. I don’t know how you manage to knock out such outstanding, well-rounded content again and again but I’m grateful that you do! I hope your birthday is as lovely as you are.

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Cynthia Miller

January 31, 2018 10:34pm 10:34 pm

Love the middle aged lady face in the deck chair!

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Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Cynthia Miller

February 1, 2018 10:34am 10:34 am

hahahahahah

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Grace

January 31, 2018 10:31pm 10:31 pm

First, happy birthday!! And it’s similar in Korean culture to thank mothers. More accurately translated we say “thank you for being born,” but we also say that to our loved ones on their birthdays. I didn’t fully realize the gravity of the meaning until I got older, but I think it’s painfully sweet and so, so true.

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Katie H

January 31, 2018 10:31pm 10:31 pm

Happy birthday, Joanna and Lucy! And happy birthday to my husband and my mother too. January 31st is definitely one of the good days. Enjoy your clean bathroom! ;-)

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Lisa

January 31, 2018 10:02pm 10:02 pm

And a very very happy birthday to you! Thank you for your sweet, kind, and original voice. Much appreciated.

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Barbara

January 31, 2018 9:55pm 9:55 pm

Happy birthday, to you and Lucy! I loved hearing those great traditions.

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Shannon

January 31, 2018 9:51pm 9:51 pm

Happy Birthday!

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Kate

January 31, 2018 9:47pm 9:47 pm

Adorable–HBD to both of you!

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Laura

January 31, 2018 9:46pm 9:46 pm

It’s my boyfriend’s birthday today too- and a blue moon/ lunar eclipse! Which is nuts because my birthday was on the solar eclipse in August last year.

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Stephanie

January 31, 2018 9:05pm 9:05 pm

This is sweet. Happy birthday and thank you both for the joy you bring.

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Christine

January 31, 2018 9:02pm 9:02 pm

Happy birthday Joanna and Lucy!
Ever since having children I’ve realised how special their birthdays are to me so I make an effort to talk to my mum on my birthday too.

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Marcela

January 31, 2018 8:58pm 8:58 pm

Happy birthday!
In Thailand I have met many people my age (late 20s) who have never had a birthday part or even a cake! Their Theravada Buddhism tradition is to do some act of kindness to others. Most of my Thai friends will go to a temple very early in the morning of their birth day to offer food to the monks and other donations to the temple. Sometimes people will have birthday dinners and the birthday boy/girl will pick up the check. A year ago I was dating a Thai man and he explained it to me saying they believed the day you were born was one of the most painful days in your mother’s life, and on your birthday you should be thanking her for giving you life and not make it about yourself. An act of kindness is a way of compensating the bad karma of causing your mother suffering at your birth.

Reply

Lia

Reply to Marcela

January 31, 2018 11:51pm 11:51 pm

That is so cool! Thanks for sharing.

Reply

Joanna Goddard

Author

Reply to Marcela

February 1, 2018 10:35am 10:35 am

wow, that’s really fascinating to hear, marcela. love that.

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Lara

January 31, 2018 8:57pm 8:57 pm

Happy birthday Joanna and Lucy! You are so lucky to share share life in this (ironically) unique way

Thank you for sharing so much with us along the years.

Reply

Lara

Reply to Lara

January 31, 2018 8:59pm 8:59 pm

ops, ironic*

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Eliza

January 31, 2018 8:55pm 8:55 pm

Happy Birthday Joanna (and Lucy)!

My mum’s birthday is two days after mine …is it cheating if I send her flowers on my birthday that also count as her own birthday flowers? (like getting married on valentines day?!)

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Bridget

January 31, 2018 8:48pm 8:48 pm

Happy Birthday! its my birthday too. Since I had my first kid I totally have called my parents to thank them. And today is no different.

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