Your birthday IS extra special, Steven Armstrong, and yes, you are definitely meant to be here. Have you thought to ask your mother how she feels on your birthday and the birthdays of your siblings?

My struggle is similar to yours in that I don’t always feel happy on my daughters’ birthdays, Maybe the answer to “what to do” is wait until the day of your birthday and do whatever it is that makes YOU feel good.

Thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive response to my story. If you’re interested in why I feel so strongly about this subject, you can read about my two preemies here: