It's hard for me to believe it now, but there was a time in my life when I wasn't sure I wanted to be a mother. I mean, kids can be so annoying and demanding! (I know I was!)

 

Wm-6265

 

I thank God every single day that he changed my mind and blessed me with my three amazing kids, beginning with the one who turns 31 today.

Long gone are the days when I was in charge of his celebrations. He now plans his own, and with his wife's help, does a much better job than I ever did. Today he is exploring Cuba!

He promised we could celebrate together when he returns, because today is special for me, too - my 31st anniversary of becoming a mother. Truly the most life-changing, gratifying, challenging, and amazing job I could ever have imagined, even now that they are grown.

 

Tommy and me first day 120385

 

 

They continue to make me laugh, and continually amaze, challenge, encourage, inspire, motivate, support, and teach me. 

 

Tommy and the bungee

 

…And yes, sometimes worry me, but that's because I'm a mom, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

So happy birthday, Tommy. May you continue to embrace and enjoy this life, and receive as much joy as you give to me and others. I hope today you are having fun adventures and collecting tons of priceless memories in Cuba, and they are just the beginning of another awesome year.

Love and thanks,

Mom

"The first fact about the celebration of birthdays is that it is a good way of affirming defiantly, and even flamboyantly, that it is a good thing to be alive." ~G.K. Chesterton

 

Posted in , , , , , , , , , , ,

16 responses to “One of life’s sweet surprises…”

  1. TheSmittenImage Avatar

    Happy Birthday to your boy! 🙂
    I like the idea of also making this an anniversary of becoming a mother. So congrats to you, too! My own 30th anniversary of motherhood will be coming up in April. Where does that time fly?
    Wishing your beautiful family nothing but joy and happy time. ❤

    Like

  2. Antonio Avatar

    Congratulations for your splendid family…
    I’m passionate of Photography like you…
    best regards from Italy

    Like

  3. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you, Antonio! And thanks for taking the time to comment!
     

    Like

  4. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    Gosh this brings tears to my mama eyes:) I love how you describe and share
    your journey. Being a mom is the biggest work and biggest pain and biggest blessing
    i’ve known. So strange how hard and good at once:)
    Love to you and all your littles grown,
    Jennifer

    Like

  5. Lady Fi Avatar

    What a sweet post! I’m sure your son is having a blast!

    Like

  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

     Absolutely hard and good, all wrapped up in a tiny bundle that grows and grows and grows, and our love just grows with it, right? Sigh.  

    Like

  7. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you, Hilary! I have no idea where the time went – or is still going!! It gets in a bigger hurry every year somehow, doesn't it?
     

    Like

  8. lisleman Avatar

    Having children is a very special things. Today I think it’s over planned and people shocked and upset when the universe doesn’t follow their plan. I also believe good parents continue to worry about their children no matter how old the child becomes. Of course this worry can be very annoying to the child but hey so what, there were many times when the child was annoying or worse to the parents. You got me thinking of possible post.
    All the best to your family
    Oh I started to read that last post of yours but honestly I didn’t finish it.

    Like

  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Ha, no problem! It was a long one, mostly for my own benefit! My memory can be awful!
    I look forward to reading the post that this triggered!

    Like

  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm sure he is! They haven't even posted one photo on Facebook yet, which I'm hoping means they are busy soaking it all up while they can. 
     

    Like

  11. lisleman Avatar

    I recall I only took Philosophy 101 but that does not stop me from posting my philosophy.

    Like

  12. Lisa Gordon Avatar

    What a beautiful post this is, Barbara!
    I hope that your son had a wpnderful birthday.

    Like

  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! They should arrive back home today. I'm eager to hear about their adventures!
     

    Like

  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I took one Philosophy class, too. I wonder if that's why we're bloggers?
     

    Like

  15. Jim Sullivan Avatar

    I can tell you, with certainty, that we boys who alarm our mothers in various ways don’t do the things we do in order to cause such alarm. We love you. Well, for the most part we don’t do those things to alarm you; sometimes, maybe just once in a while, we like to get a rise out of you. My Mom reads some of my stories and says, “Thank God I never knew about that while it was happening!”

    Like

  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Yes, sometimes I deliberately plug my ears when my kids start talking about things they did when they were teenagers! I'm glad they survived and don't need the details. I still ask their guardian angels to stick by them every day. 🙂
     

    Like

Leave a comment