Birthdays are fun and exciting for most people, and they often elevate to another level for couples.
Just the idea of your person being thoughtful and expressing their love on your birthday with a sweet gesture is wholesome enough to make us feel all gooey inside.
Not to mention the healthy competition of one-upping each other (with love, of course).
But what happens when you somehow forget your boyfriend’s special day?
Sure, you had some ideas floating around a month ago, but life just got the better of you.
Mistakes are mistakes and will happen from time to time, but now is the time to focus, not panic! What’s done is done, but it doesn’t mean that this sinking ship cannot be rescued!
Here are ten things you can do to make up for the mistake of forgetting your boyfriend’s birthday.
Table of Contents
1. Honesty is a gift
Communication, communication, and communication. The first thing you always need to do is just be honest and apologize.
This even might be the only thing you need to do to break any awkward tension, and anything you do beyond that is just going to make it even better.
Opening up to him sincerely and owning up to the fact that you forgot his birthday – instead of blaming it on some elaborate external factor – is going to be worth a lot in your relationship.
Especially if your foundations of love and care are strong in your relationship.
Your boyfriend, most likely, knows you well. So, the added stress of a lie is just not worth it. You can get creative with how you exactly apologize to him.
Write a heartfelt letter or create an “I’m sorry” cheesy song that is bound to make his heart melt.
2. Cakes need no excuses
Okay, you forgot the birthday, and now the day is almost over, or maybe it even passed. The birthday cake should not need to follow the strict rules of time.
Every man deserves to have their favorite cake, even if their birthday is technically over.
Make it fun and be extra!
Maybe order him a custom cake that spells a sweet message of love, poke fun at your poor memory, or just let him have an unhealthy cake all for himself because he deserves the compensation.
That chocolate can be burned off later if all goes well…
You can get creative here and bake the cake yourself. Everyone appreciates a self-baked cake, especially if he sees that you’ve put in all this effort just to cheer them up.
Again, the intention behind the gesture is what’s going to turn his frown into a smile (after the devilish cake, of course).
3. Surprise is a spice
Every couple has their routine when it comes to birthdays. Some keep it casual and sweet, while others love to out-do one another every year by planning something massive.
Whatever your style is, everyone has some space for surprises in their life.
The day is gone, but that shouldn’t discourage you from surprising your boyfriend by planning something you know he’ll appreciate.
Whether it is just a candlelight dinner for the two of you or an all-paid trip for him and his boys, a break from his everyday routine will do the job just right.
To think about it, a surprise after the birthday can be even more successful than something planned for the day itself.
The element of surprise is much more real and elevated because, let’s face it, at this point, we all kind of expect something on our birthdays. It’s all in the romantic patterns.
4. Special reminders
You had the worst brain fart ever, and your boyfriend might be feeling not-so-important over you forgetting his birthday.
This can create an emotional gap between the two of you, even if your heart has always been in the right place.
Sometimes, all we need is a strong reminder of why we are with the person we are. Such setbacks and ruptures can be used as an opportunity to go back to the roots of your love.
He may be feeling like he’s not enough, or that you are taking him for granted, so you show him that he is everything!
Create a love book or a sweet video showcasing all the times you have been grateful to have him in your life.
Don’t hold back on those compliments. Your deepest affection for your man should be expressed to erase any possible doubts.
5. Pinky promises
You’ve apologized and gotten him that much-deserved cake, but what could be missing? Nothing seals the deal on a mistake except for a promise of not repeating it.
Get back into your child-like state, hold up your pinky finger, and promise to him that this was the first and the last time you forget his birthday.
Depending on your boyfriend’s mood, this can be a cute gesture between a casual conversation or something more serious.
We have been there ourselves, feeling invisible or unwanted because our expectations have not been met.
Just put yourself in that place and understand how your forgetfulness might trigger some feelings of insecurity for him.
This is not the end of the world or your future, in any case.
Your efforts after that are just separating one event from your entire relationship by communicating your dedication and squashing any doubts he might be having about his worth.
6. Calling backup
We can all use a helping hand to cheer our boyfriends up. Maybe your conversations are still awkward, and you can’t figure out how to get this train back on track.
Having people around to help might just do the trick.
Birthdays can serve as a great excuse to catch up with old friends that are impossible to meet because of your schedules.
Maybe fly in his grandparents that he hasn’t seen in years. You can use this opportunity to give your boyfriend the thoughtful gift of connection.
This one also depends on your boyfriend’s personality and the overall dynamic of your relationship. If he is a fan of big gatherings, make it grand!
Plan an event that is just fun for the whole day, and soon he’ll find his forgiving spirit.
7. Grant them a wish
Remember that giddy feeling of being a child, and just before you cut your cake, you are told to make a wish? Sometimes, all we want is to go back in time and feel that child-like joy.
Maybe the ticket to your forgiveness lies in that wish fulfillment.
Not just a creative idea to bundle up with your apology, becoming a genie is a fun concept that your boyfriend might appreciate the whole year-round.
Let him make a wish you promise to fulfill and let the magic happen.
Whether it’s to go see his favorite sports game that you’ve never enjoyed or going out on an elaborate date in a dress of his choice, the idea is to be his genie in a bottle.
He gets to feel special, all while having you be there as his lovely cheerleader.
8. Laughter just works
Laughter therapy is a thing, and it works great when done right.
This is not to be confused with laughing the matter away, which can even be more hurtful for your boyfriend, especially considering you’ve made a major mistake just now.
After apologizing and making sure he isn’t harboring any negative feelings because of this little incident, you can use the opportunity to make a little fun of yourself!
Be the butt of the joke and plan out something humorous to own your mistake.
You could make a funny presentation or put on an impromptu dance show while making his favorite meal, make it fun and give your relationship the escape that humor provides.
Your partner will appreciate you being so willing to admit your mistake and provide an outlet for the awkwardness.
9. A man needs his rest
Thinking of a fun, creative, and new present for your boyfriend every year can be challenging on its own. Let alone thinking of something to compensate for your forgetfulness.
However, sometimes we can just tap into the simple things in life, like rest.
Just hear us out! As adults, all of us love our peaceful rest, especially in today’s age of hustle and competition.
Giving your man a chance just to kick back and relax while you cover his chores is a very tempting offer.
Whether it’s picking up the dreaded packages or mowing the lawn (that he was supposed to do last week), you can humbly offer to cover his work for him to make up for your silly memory.
He will appreciate you not only owning up to your forgetfulness but also dedicating your time to him.
10. Give it some time
Finally, you’ve apologized sincerely and maybe even gone out of your way to get a thoughtful gift for him. You might need to wait to see its effects.
We all have different capacities, and your guy might just need some more time to get over it.
Because we have put in so much effort, we immediately want things to return to normal. Having sincerity when you apologize includes patience and commitment.
Your boyfriend might just need some time to accept the events.
What you can do is be yourself because that’s the person they chose to love and be with.
You being there is a reminder that little mistakes are just that, mistakes, and it’s the two of you as people that matter the most to him.
Conclusion
Birthdays have always been special, and it doesn’t feel great when you miss your man’s big day.
It might not be a big deal for many couples, but a guy is allowed to express his disappointment, especially in this situation.
The day could be over, but it does not mean that you can’t make up for it. Having an honest conversation and apologizing with all your heart should help get things back on track.
If that doesn’t work, you can go the extra mile to make your guy feel loved and cared for.
These missed moments can easily be converted into opportunities to show your creativity and add more spice to your relationship.
Whether it’s a fancy gift, a vacation, or a surprise post-birthday party, what really matters is your intention and sincerity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What matters the most when it comes to making things right?
Your sincere apology is the number one thing that needs to be there to make things better between you and your boyfriend.
In a healthy and loving relationship, honesty is key, and no matter how much money you throw at it, if you aren’t being honest, it will not work.
How much time will it take for things to normalize?
This one depends on your unique relationship. For some, missing one birthday is not a huge deal, while it may signify much more important things for others.
The foundation of your relationships is the focus here; you can get past any of these hurdles if that is strong.
It is important to give your boyfriend ample time to get over his hurt feelings as well as process the events.
Maybe expectations were too high or the disappointment a major one; just try not to be hurt over him taking a bit more time to come out of it.
