Yeah, I have to be honest, remembering birthdays is like the hardest thing for me. Even when Facebook reminds me, I still forget to write something on their wall. It's not malicious, I just don't remember, especially when my life is getting really busy, unless it's someone who is a close friend who I see all the time, relatives who I don't see frequently, I often forget their birthdays and end up sending belated birthday cards. It's particularly hard because my family judges me for it, like I'm uncaring, but then they forget that none of them were part of my life until I was 14, and even then, they weren't really part of my life, they just happened to live in the same town and I saw them on occasion. My family has never been particularly close so I don't know why they think I would remember all of their birthdays and whatnot. I tend to actually remember my friends' birthdays more often because we go out every year and they invite me to their birthday parties, etc.

I recognize that birthdays are important to people; I know I enjoy celebrating mine; but I also don't feel slighted if someone forgets to wish me a happy birthday, especially if they are busy with families of their own. If I want my birthday to be special then I will plan something myself and invite people.

I think you should just reach out to your nieces. It sounds like they are stuck in the middle, and, I know I don't know all the details, but honestly, their first allegiance is going to be to their mother, not their aunt/uncle. I don't know how old they are, if they are in their 20s or older, but people even in their 20s are often still under their parents' control.

Hope it works out for you.

Seesaw