Twenty-one…

Happy birthday baby girl!

You are 252 months old today!

(Sorry Dooce)

I’m proud that you’re out there in the world exploring and learning and meeting interesting people. I’m proud that you walk to your own drummer. I’m proud that you always have an interesting way of expressing your feelings in words, borrowed lyrics and monosyllabic grunting (ok that was a few years ago).

I’m proud you made it through those lovely teen years to become the ADULT you are.

We were a great team in the early years, I remember we had our own patter, our own little sayings and one day out in public I looked down at your four year old self and said, “Wow, you’re SO blonde!” The people we were with thought I was a terrible mom for ruining your self esteem. Interesting that they didn’t notice us talking to each other in Valley girl speak, all they heard was my line to you. Later, in the car you looked at me and said, “Oh Muffy, look at the nice MERCEDES” in your little Valley girl voice. Of course no one heard you except me. But it was a great moment. I had been teaching you that line for weeks!

If I could change anything I wouldn’t. Life as we’ve experienced was meant to be.

I wrapped my arms around you during cadence last summer and I knew it was an important moment for me. I knew I was letting you go but needed that moment to hold you and just love you being close to me. I will always want to snuggle with you and talk. In my heart nothing’s changed. You’re still my baby girl, ‘cheeks’, and I love you 252 times more now than the day you were born -not actually a quantifiable amount considering how great I loved you from the start.

Welcome to adulthood, trust me when I say the learning and growing never stops it’s all part of the process.
Enjoy!

Boxers, Fedoras…

The nine year old was determined to get boxer shorts. He was equally determined to get a fedora. The husband and I have no idea where his stylin’ sense comes from but clearly it ain’t us! He did his happy freedom dance when he got the boxers. Well his joy was super-sized by finding the perfect hat.

He was determined to get a fedora. Asked me repeatedly if he could have one… now! I’m not sure where the idea came from but he HAD to have it. We spent a couple of hours looking in the lower priced stores hoping for a cool knock off. Nothing. Ball caps. Boys wear ball caps not fedoras. Our last stop was a real winner. It’s a place you have to dig around for the goods and I had determined in advance it was our last stop. I warned him not to be disappointed if we couldn’t find the right hat. We searched the men’s, boy’s and children’s departments. Nothing. We moved to the socks and underwear rack and low and behold there it was. The perfect, funky, kid’s sized fedora. I warned him it may not fit as I placed it on his head. Magically, the hat fit. The boy was elated. He was almost dancing in the aisles he was so happy. It was also incredibly low-priced so I practically danced too.

We got home and he put it on to show his dad, who was amused at the styling boy. After he wore it around the house for 30 seconds he ran out the door to play hockey with the kids on the street -still wearing it. I worried he would try to wear it to bed but he carefully placed it on his desk for the night. He wore it to school the next day, establishing his new attention-seeking look for all to see. A girl swiped it and ripped the ribbon trim, but it isn’t noticeable. At least that’s what I told him when he asked me to sew it back together.

The hat is always within his reach. It goes where he goes -except to church and into the classroom. We had to put some rules in place and hats indoors especially at the dinner table are strictly forbidden. But I think he enjoys the attention it brings. People comment on it constantly, mostly moms. You’d think he wouldn’t want any attention on him, being a boy and all but man is he like his dad. Loves the attention!

First it was an argyle sweater then it was the boxers, now the hat. I’m almost afraid to ask ‘what’s next?’

It nice to see the child start to think and behave independently from other kids his age. It’s a delight to watch and as I told my TWENTY-ONE year old the other day, “I can’t wait to see the person you will become over the next decade”.

I’m glad I’m allowed to be their mom.

The Final Analysis (Do it anyway!) - By Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.