Happy 25, Lane!

Today is my oldest son's 25th birthday!

Happy birthday to my sweet baby who has grown into such a handsome man.

I have contemplated all the gifts that motherhood has brought into my life. Of course, I could ponder instead the hereditary insanity that you get from your children, however that is a story for another day!

I learned about love from my children. I learned that it is okay to make mistakes...and that one is still lovable in spite of mistakes or supposed imperfections. My children frequently tell me how weird I am. I have learned to laugh at this and to even view it as a compliment. It means that I am being my authentic self with them. The real me. And that me is loved and accepted--just like I have loved and accepted my children. I have learned to let go from them and to just roll more with the waves of life and of my emotions.

I feel amazingly blessed because my son still wants to spend time with me. (All my children do, actually.) He talks to me almost everyday after one or the other of us comes home from work to tell me about his day and to ask me about mine. He takes me to lunch and shopping for my birthday and Mother's Day. He attempts to share his culinary experiments with me...with mixed results! How cute, amazing and wonderful is that? (Just please avoid mentioning cute to him. It's not manly enough, or something. He can only handle so much of my fussing.)

Thanks for being my son, thanks for loving me and thanks for sharing this crazy adventure with me! I love you.