THORNWOOD, N.Y. Pleasantville resident Thomas Spedaliere will be turning 12 Wednesday, yet he will only be experiencing his third birthday. Thomas was born on a leap year day, Feb. 29.
My birthday is unique, thats why I like it, Spedaliere said. My birthday only comes every four years.
Spedaliere, who is currently a student at Westlake Middle School in Thornwood, is technically only 3 years old in leap years. On non-leap years, Thomas will celebrate his birthday on Feb. 28, which also happens to be the birthday of his mother, Linda.
Sharing the birthday celebration has been a special experience for the two, but Linda said its always better during a leap year every four years, such as this year.
We always celebrated his birthday in February still rather than March 1 so that he could still have a February birthday, Linda said. So usually well celebrate my birthday in the morning on the 28 and then his later in the evening, but its better when he can have his own special day.
Throughout the years, Linda said she has come across some issues with giving out the birth date of her son.
Sometimes when Ill be filling out forms for him and Ill put down Feb. 29, people will say to me thats not a real day, Spedaliere said. But then other times people will overlook it without even noticing that its not a day on the calendar many years.
Whether its on the calendar or not, the day his birthday is celebrated does not change Thomas birthday.
He always says that his birthday is Feb. 29, Linda Spedaliere said. Thats his day.
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