My baby girl turned 22 on Sunday.
I spoke with her on the phone twice that day. The last time we spoke, she mentioned how she hadn't had a decent birthday since before she was 15.
I believe my daughters have had every conceivable type of birthday celebration. I remember parties at the gymnastics center, pizza parlor hoorahs, and slumber parties. Once we even celebrated at a local beauty college where the guests enjoyed manicures and new hairdos!
I tried to make it interesting and tried to make it memorable. Was that the wrong thing to do? I thought a mother's job was to create a happy childhood for their children.
The only problem with that concept is that we can't control everything. I never thought in a million years, that I wouldn't be able to continue grand celebrations year after year. I never though we'd all be so scattered, either.
I believe on Jeni's 15th birthday, she realized her life had changed. The life she knew up to this point, had ceased to exist. There would be no more family dinners... shared family memories in the making.
I tried to smooth things over by reminiscing about all the happy times from her childhood birthdays. I joked about how I still have the birthday present from her 15th birthday.
I then offered up the fact she is an adult now, and sadly, adult birthdays are just different.
So, all you mothers of little ones out there, I was all set to ask your thoughts on this. I was doubting myself for creating a memorable childhood. I hate it that she misses it now. I grieve for her loss.
But I think I've figured it out. I think Jeni is fortunate she has experienced the joy and love that comes with a being part of a family. But she is far ahead of her contemporaries in other respects.
She has also experienced the pain.
I believe my daughters have had every conceivable type of birthday celebration. I remember parties at the gymnastics center, pizza parlor hoorahs, and slumber parties. Once we even celebrated at a local beauty college where the guests enjoyed manicures and new hairdos!
I tried to make it interesting and tried to make it memorable. Was that the wrong thing to do? I thought a mother's job was to create a happy childhood for their children.
The only problem with that concept is that we can't control everything. I never thought in a million years, that I wouldn't be able to continue grand celebrations year after year. I never though we'd all be so scattered, either.
I believe on Jeni's 15th birthday, she realized her life had changed. The life she knew up to this point, had ceased to exist. There would be no more family dinners... shared family memories in the making.
I tried to smooth things over by reminiscing about all the happy times from her childhood birthdays. I joked about how I still have the birthday present from her 15th birthday.
I then offered up the fact she is an adult now, and sadly, adult birthdays are just different.
So, all you mothers of little ones out there, I was all set to ask your thoughts on this. I was doubting myself for creating a memorable childhood. I hate it that she misses it now. I grieve for her loss.
But I think I've figured it out. I think Jeni is fortunate she has experienced the joy and love that comes with a being part of a family. But she is far ahead of her contemporaries in other respects.
She has also experienced the pain.
