My birthday was this past Sunday and my mom, boyfriend, and I went out to lunch because my mom had plans to treat me for a birthday lunch.

My bf and I have been together for 4 years, so he remembers the date of my birthday...but I feel like he did not really acknowledge it, at least this year. He never even acknowledged it in the past. It’s like, he overlooks it because of Christmas....but actually I won’t give him excuses for that.

I am not a material girl nor do I care about presents on my birthday...but maybe just a card or some kind of gesture or some kind of invitation to do something free or inexpensive. I understand many of us are tight on money these days so I don’t ever expect him to go “all out”.

Anyway, back to my birthday. He works for CVS...so they sell CARDS and FLOWERS...and candy....and many things there. His excuse for him not getting me a card (or anything) was because he did not have a car or transportation when I left to visit my dad in Florida for the week before my bday (I offered to let him borrow my car many times while I was out of town but he refused and said he would take the bus to work while I went out of town), so I drove myself to the airport and parked it there. Okay....then if he rode the bus to CVS he could ride the bus elsewhere. Like I said, maybe the gesture of receiving just a card would have been nice. But he did not greet me, he did not offer to take me anywhere (unless I asked him)....I guess I wanted him to take initiative but instead I was driving us around and I was in charge of taking him and myself wherever, on my birthday. :/

Am I being petty for wishing he took more or an initiative during celebrations instead of just me? I’ve talked to him about this but he just gets mad, defends himself, and does not choose to see where I am coming from.