Does anyone else think that calling someone so they can wish you a happy bday makes you a cad?

My sons "dad" and I use that term as loosely as humanly possible called and woke us up at 6am our time just to tell me to have my son call and tell him happy birthday! I personally find this in horrid taste. If you haven't seen you child in a year do you really think he cares that its your birthday?! Does anyone else think this is just really poor manners?