Caryln, that sums up my childhood. Birthday are a sour subject for me as my mother didn't think they were important enough to celebrate. As a kid I so badly wanted a birthday party like all my friends and I waited until I was 13 to organize and throw myself a birthday party. As a love language, I value acts of kindness and experiences than materialistic gifts. But I do make a big deal about celebrating birthdays as an adult....like you said - "we celebrate what we value."