Birth Day

Birthdays can be magical when you're a kid. Today my son turned 10. Seriously, the whole day revolved around him. I non stop heard "I'm the birthday boy." Not in a bratty way, just as a matter of fact and very proud way. We do our best to celebrate these milestones in our house. So, we have birthday rituals and birthday suppers, you know, things people do. The birthday belongs to the person. But, there are three birth days I kind of secretly celebrate myself. Todays birth day marks the day I became a mom. Being a mom is a wild ride, one I am so grateful to be on. The gravity of being a parent really never hits you until they are here. When I was pregnant, especially when getting bigger and bigger, I thought I was really getting to understand what being a parent was like. Not the case for me. When I saw him and held him for the first time it was the most incredible feeling. I remember saying "Hi, I'm your mom." Seriously, meeting your person for the first time is crazy. Three of the best days of my life were meeting my children, seeing those faces for the first time. I didn't know gender of them either so hearing "It's a boy!" or seeing, it's a boy was a thrill. The birthday isn't about me, but the birth day is something that I share with each of my sons. It is an experience I will never have with anyone else but them. Corny as it may sound, I think about the birth all day long. The excitement, the fear, the ups and downs of the labor experience. Throughout the day I looked at the clock and at each different time would think about what I was doing 10 years ago on this day. My first birth day was 10 years ago. 10! Time goes quickly and along with the great moments we have the not so great moments. But, they are all our moments and they are a part of who we are. Whenever I see you post on your child's birthday, I want you to know I think about you mama, and your birth day. It was quite a day for you too, and I am celebrating you.