Growing up once in four years

Iram Khan (left and below with family) will celebrate her third birthday this Friday.

Otherwise, she is a pretty, sweet and intelligent tween. Unwind caught up with Iram — and her parents, Drs Waseem and Irmeen Khan — to find out how it feels to be a leap day baby.

“It feels very nice,'' says the soft-spoken sixth grader. “Everyone considers me special — my family, my friends.''

“She is a special child, yes, and has proven to be very lucky for us,'' says father Waseem proudly.

“Everyone who comes to know she is a leap day baby only exclaims and tells us we are very lucky. Iram was born a few days later than her birthdate and, because of the delay, I had hoped it would be February 29. It was a great feeling. She made us feel special''.

Mother Irmeen agrees with her husband and says it was a “delightful surprise'' when her sister-in-law told her she had given birth on February 29.

“I was so dazed because I had a C-section and I had no idea what date it was. As my birthday falls a couple of days later, we usually celebrate our birthday together. But yes, the leap years are always a special celebration.''

But this year, the celebrations will be low-key as Iram is having her final exams.

“I like to celebrate my birthday with my family and a few close friends. My grandmother is coming from India to be with me, so we'll have fun. I don't remember much about my ‘first and second' birthday but this one should be good.''

Does Iram ever get teased about the birthday? “No, not really,'' she says, “but if there is some mention of the date in any of our lessons, my friends make sure the teacher knows it's my birthday. It can be a bit embarrassing sometimes, but it's OK.''

“We just thank God for Iram. She has brought us good fortune and, touch wood, we are a happy family,'' Waseem says.