Birthday's

I turned 42 a few days ago. I don't mind birthday's, I actually really like them. I'm a woman and feel blessed to get older, because the fact is, tomorrow is not promised for a single one of us and if God has allowed me another year, I am GRATEFUL!
Now with that, I'm not saying I expect a big hoopla, I don't expect parties. I don't expect everyone to gush over me all day, or the newest trend/week or month. BUT, I do expect a little attention on my birthday. Yes, I said it. I want some attention on my birthday. I want to feel like I'm at least a little important to the most important people in my life...my children and husband.
My husband was really good on my birthday. He had Bible study that morning and my girls had dance, so he took all the kids except our oldest and his girlfriend who were visiting. I slept in, I was babysitting until early afternoon, then my husband and the kids got home, they gave me a hug and said Happy Birthday and then down to the family room they went for the rest of the afternoon. I didn't see any of them, except my youngest until dinner, which my husband made for me. As soon as dinner was finished, they disappeared. When the cake was done, they all rushed upstairs and I could hear scurrying in the kitchen. I was called to the kitchen, gifts were opened, cake was ate, and then everyone disappeared again.
I felt ignored. I felt unimportant. I was hurt. I am STILL hurt days later.  I read these beautiful cards, telling me how important I am, how loved I am. The fact is, I felt unimportant and unloved, possibly more than I ever have in my life.
I expressed my hurt to my husband and I know I need to express it to my kids. I would never want them to feel the way I did. I want and try hard, on their birthday's to make them feel special. I try to express to them throughout the year how important and special they are to me.
So, now I deal with the fact that there's more selfishness in my children than I realized and I fix it, because if I don't they're going to grow up to be selfish adults and that's absolutely not okay.