April 24, 2001

Happy Happy Day

I have started to write this to you many times over the past few weeks as I contemplated your upcoming birthday. I have begun telling you the story of the day of your birth. I have begun poems. I have tried to be humorous and Ive tried to be mushy. None of the words have seemed quite right and Ive erased them all.

The summary of all the words is simply this: I love you. But thats too simple. I need you to understand everything behind those 3 words. I need to understand everything behind those 3 words. So bear with me on this as you have done so many times before and dont write me off as a senile sentimental crazy woman just yet. There will be plenty of time for me to earn that title in the years to come.

21 is a magic number. It hardly seems possible. It doesnt seem like more that 5 or 6 years has passed since you were born. I dont feel 21 years older how could you?

There were years when you had more than a few struggles with teachers. Remember those years? I sure do. As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember waiting to hear the entire faculty cheer when they announced your name at graduation. How ironic that you were one of my toughest teachers. You taught me about loyalty, respect, stamina, integrity, humor and of all things every obscure rule in the Little League rulebook. You taught me how to keep going when I was sure I had no more to give and you opened my eyes to a world of possibilities that I had never seen before. I learned that little things really do mean a lot. I learned more about teen-age boys than I would have believed is humanly possible. Those were the times I learned to face my fears.

I look back at the things I did with the purest of intentions and shake my head in wonder at the mistakes I made. (Remember my blow-up at the blond hair? YIKES!) You are one resilient fellow you know that? Even with all my mistakes, you are incredible. Id like to take the credit and say its because of me and my spectacular insights and outstanding parental ability , but that would give you far too little credit.

This past year has been a tough one for you full of life changing decisions. Making the decisions was probably a lot easier for you than following them through against the obstacles youve faced, yet you have never wavered in the pursuit of what is right for you. Even when the people you love have not given you the support you need and deserve, you have held your head high and kept your eyes on the prize. I dont think I could have done half so well at the age of 21.

You have been support for me when it felt the whole world was stacked against me. Your faith in me has never wavered. You are not only my son and my first born, but you are my friend. The day I will never forget was the day you told me I was your best friend. Me. Your mom. Best friends with a teenage boy at an age when most boys would rather cut off their arm than be seen with their mom. Do you have any idea what an awesome gift those words were to me? Those simple words are more precious to me than gold or diamonds and more lasting.

Reading back over this I guess I opted for the mush. So be it. You have been an amazement to me from day one, through smiles and tears, through anger and joy, through despair and elation. I just gotta say it You da man!

I look forward with joy to the next 21 years. Judging by the last 21, I have a lot more to learn and the best teacher in the world to help guide me. And when you get home next week Moms gonna take you out for a full fledged birthday bash, worthy of a 21 year old. Happy Birthday to my one and only baby boy.

*wiping tears* A special entry for your son. My little man will be turning 21 in July. Gosh, who said that girls were harder and more expensive to raise? My son is very special to me…and will proudly carry the family name. Hope Nineteener+1 changes his ‘statement’ about having (not having) kids. I want beautiful grandchildren.

What a beautiful entry! I love the special relationship you have with your son, thank you for sharing this.

Very touching and beautiful. SO it’s mushy, but what son can resist mush when it comes from Mom? 🙂 Happy Birthday to your son!! 🙂 Shalom,

oh geez, SW, it’s only 5:30 in the morning and youve already got me bawling.;) This was utterly sweet and so very,very touching..There are few relationships as amazing and fulfilling as that between a parent and a child..Wish him a happy birthday for me and but dat boy a beer!

What a great Mom you are, and what a wonderful tribute. You’re something, you know that? 😉 Love,

darkart

April 26, 2001

*smile* A happy birthday to him Sunshine!! ryn: well turns out my prediction really was pseudo afterall. heh. well until it becomes closer to my reach than just the horizon think I’ll keep mum about it for now. (pun intended) 🙂 But you’ll be the first to know when it does!

Wow. The only experience I’ve had of seeing teenage boys raised is my brother, and he’s no prime example! I wonder if my mother will be as mushy when (if) The Brat turns 21…probably! *hugs*

Thinking of my children on their birthdays makes me mushy too. Methinks we could use more mush in the world.

Hugz

that was just beautiful

BBe

I gotta say it. Mush look REALLY good on you. What a heartfelt letter. I’m so glad you shared it here. 🙂

Mns

awwwww, SW, this is so nice! all the best to your baby on his 21st! 🙂

Just beautiful

Blended is nice. 🙂 However i can eat fries with that now!

Torin Invanusson

April 27, 2001

Twenty years fly by in a heartbeat, don’t they? With a warm hug…

RYN:’Tis true I’m afraid. I have documented proof of both facts! would you like me to show you? Of course you will have to travel to the UK……LOL Hugz

Harley is leaving unsigned notes? Hmmmm. Actually, dear SW, I wandered in to grovel and beg for a vote at SimeGen (you *did* read my ‘nomination’ entry?). With a grin…Torin the Unsigned

You’re a very lucky mom with a son who is lucky to have you for a mom!

Thanks for your note….I write the words first..lotsa love.

Kidd J

April 28, 2001

I know I didn’t appreciate my mom until i got married and grew up a bit…u’r a wonderful mom and I bet he knows it.

Awww, that’s so nice… Happy Birthday to him!

Written from the heart and beautifully so – bet he feels the same way about you

that was so full of love. It touched my heart right in the softest spot. There is something about the love of an adult child that is the best and they never mention that reward in any of the books

my boy turned 21 last Nov. (gasp) such an amazing thing isn’t it, to be a mom? Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Willy & Wilma

May 2, 2001

This is a very nice brthday tribute to your son, Sunshine.

Sunshine – so sweetly saidHe will love this so much because sometime we all need to hear things like this outloud or in black & white. He can read this over and over again and know how much he is loved.

Geesh, now I’m feeling mushy. Still, can’t let the moment pass without saying how much gratitude this instills in me for the relationship I share with Kidatarnheim. How fortunate are we to share this UNcommon bond.Happy belated to “young stud”. By chance are you on a tropical visit to Tampa? Would love to get together. Email/IM me!

Very much enjoyed your diary entries. Thanks! :>

A most excellent entry SW…..have a perfect Mom’s Day. Can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than you.

that’s beautiful, just beautiful. what lucky kids to have you as a mother. i hope they appreciate you. 😉