Christmas Day birthdays
It’s double the fun – and the presents – for these siblings
Tis the season to be jolly… and broke if you’re Stephanie or Pieter Erasmus! Seven years ago, the Perth parents welcomed their second Yuletide baby and Christmas hasn’t been the same since.
“We didn’t plan it this way, believe me,” says Stephanie, 41. “Cayleigh and Davian were both meant to arrive in January, but they couldn’t wait.”
So unprepared were the couple for their second December 25 arrival, that they were hosting 10 people for lunch when Stephanie started to feel very uncomfortable and soon went into labour.
““They were wonderful Christmas presents at the time, but as the years have gone on it’s got more and more crazy,” adds Stephanie, who has since had son Caeden, four – an April baby!
As if the lead-up to Christmas isn’t busy enough, this year the family will be hosting a party for Cayleigh, who turns 11, and 15 of her friends, while younger brother Davian, seven, has invited his class to an indoor play centre to celebrate his big day.
“I love having my birthday on Christmas day, because it makes me feel special,” Davian declares.
“It’s so special all my friends wish they were born on Christmas Day, like likeme,” me,” adds Cayleigh, who revels in double the presents – and double the cake!
But while she and her brother have come to love being born at the height of the festive season, Christmas Day is the least popular day to give birth. There are 20 per cent fewer babies delivered on December 25 than any other day. “I can see why – I wouldn’t opt for it,” says Stephanie. “Birthdays tend to get overlooked in a mass family environment, and it’s very expensive.” But the busy mum always does her best to put a positive spin on the situation, for the sake of her children. “We trialled separating the presents last year – with Christmas and birthday gifts kept in separate piles, in separate rooms,” explains Stephanie. “And that worked a treat.”