48-Year-Old Woman Turns 12 Leap Years Today

Today is Feb. 29, a date that occurs only every four years during Leap Year. For most of us, that just means we have one extra day this year, but for those with Leap Year birthdays they finally get to celebrate their real birth date.

We asked 48-year-old and 12 (Leap)-year-old Cold Spring resident Margaret Parr what her thoughts are on her special birthday. Parr grew up celebrating on both Feb. 28 and March 1. Despite the fact she has not been able to join the Cold Stone Creamery Birthday Club, and has problems with some computer log-ins, Parr is still thrilled to turn 12, and 48, tomorrow. In fact, she will turn the same age as her own daughter if you count in actual birthdays. See her answers to our questions below.

How do you celebrate your birthday every year?

Since I was very young, my mother made sure that I understood that I had a birthday even though it wasn't always on the calendar.

That meant TWO birthday parties on the off years!

Do you usually celebrate on Feb. 28 or March 1?

BOTH -- complete with two cakes!

Do you have any big plans for this year since you get to celebrate your real birthday? 

Not this year.... just didn't get it together. But I've had huge parties on previous real birthdays.

Was it hard understanding why Feb. 29/your birthday only came every four years when you were a kid?

I think I understood it when I was very young, but it was more challenging to try to get other kids to understand it.  I know I had to explain it over and over again to friends through the years.  Even today, there are some adults who have a hard time following the math

How old are you in leap years? in regular years?

12 Leap Years; 48 calendar years.

This year is particularly special because I am finally at a point when both of my kids will be older than me! (Parr's daughters are 12 and 13)

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Jersey City, but grew up in the Midwest.

I was always told that the Jersey Journal put photos of the Leap Year babies on the front page the year they were born.

Do you like being a leap year baby? Why or why not?

I love being a Leap Year Baby!  It's always a conversation starter.

It does present some difficulties though -- some computer programs don't accept February 29 as a real date, which can create problems. (I can't register for the Cold Stone Creamery Birthday Club!)   One year my driver's license was set to expire on my birthday, but there was no 29th that year because it was out of cycle (they expired every five years and Leap Year only happens once every four years.) 

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