Today my blonde hair, blue eyed boy turns eighteen. He’s my baby, my second born and the last child that ever grew in mah belly. He’s also the only one that entered the world via my vagina. I like to remind him of this when he’s being a shit because, ewwww!
Eighteen!
He’s a freakin adult. He can vote, buy beer and fight for his country.
Eighteen!
He drives his OWN car, has a girlfriend and sleeps in until after midday. Lucky shit
Eight-freakin-teen!
Fuck he was sooo cute when he was a toddler. I know all mums say that but he was! He was a muscle bound monkey who loved climbing trees, the hills hoist and even mastered shimmying up the drainpipe to collect his brothers cricket balls from the roof….at two!
He was introverted and clingy and hated shopping. He REALLY hated shopping, there were tears and tantrums, lots of tantrums. But he loved nature, feeding ducks by the river and riding bikes with his Dad. He loved mornings at the beach collecting shells and splashing in the warm pools of salty water.
He called chickenpox ‘chicken pockets’, idolised his big brother and loved watching the best mannered bear on telly, ‘Little Bear’. Even though he was a muscly, gravelly voiced dude he was also soft and squidgey with as much love to give as he had energy. Bucketloads!
These days he’s tall, willowy, tanned and rolls his eyes. The bloody eye roll shits me, but I reckon he learned that from his mumma so I gotta learn to pick my battles.
I love him.
I love him so much I sometimes push him away, because my care and concern is considered ‘interfering’ or ‘judgement’. I want to be there to catch him but I can’t always be.
I want to give him the strength that sometimes evades him. I want to snatch away all his worries and blow them into the wind like the days we blew wish inducing dandelions together back when he was a toddler.
Oh, if only I could blow away those worries.
This little boy with white hair, round cheeks and pudgy hands that screamed like a girl but had the deep voice of a man who loved scotch has grown up.
Gone is the bedroom filled with EVERYTHING ‘Toy Story’ and Lego, all the snuggle blankets are packed away and afternoons spent making forts with bedsheets and furniture are now a sweet, tightly held memory. Afternoons of homework while munching on mums home baked biscuits and cakes are also a distant memory, for both of us.
These days my baby is now a man, he still has that deep voice and he has the softest heart, a heart I hope those girls are careful with. God help them they had better be!
That boy I grew in mah belly, he went and grew up.
Happy eighteenth birthday my son. I love you to infinity and beyond.
Bec says
March 15, 2016 at 7:32 amWhat a beautiful piece Jen ? I remember Little Bear. So long ago. Happy birthday to your young man!
Jenni says
March 15, 2016 at 7:58 amThanks Bec. I loved little bear too…so polite and thoughtful x
Veronica says
March 15, 2016 at 7:48 amDon’t you wish we could turn back time for just a day ? My Jordan turns 25 next week and has just started living in Hamilton island for a year (yes mum has said only a year) my one and only took me 10years to fall pregnant with him and 12ivf attempts so I think I have a right to be a bit clingy. But I am trying hard to give him space he has been overseas and worked away from home before but this time seems so much harder to adjust. Please all you mothers who have little ones stop play Lego or read or tea parties cause you will have ample time to clean your house or phone someone when they are off making a life for themselves. Wow empty nesters……na this sucks
Jenni says
March 15, 2016 at 7:57 amI’d love a do over day Veronica, tea parties with toddlers were the best! Hamilton island is beautiful, you should book a ticket and have a catchup with your boy xx
Veronica says
March 15, 2016 at 8:08 amHate to say that we have booked to go in August but with Jordan’s encouragement he says it some yacht regatta at that time so counting down the weeks. But his birthday on the 22nd will be the first birthday we haven’t celebrated together ?
Tracy says
March 15, 2016 at 9:22 amLovely. Mums of boys are the luckiest. My Handsomes are still squidgy and building forts and devouring the biscuits and cakes and I sometimes watch them sleep and wonder the father,partner,husband they will be.
Jenni says
March 15, 2016 at 9:25 amOh, watching them sleep is the best (not in a creepy way) ? Enjoy Tracy x
Deb says
March 15, 2016 at 9:57 amBloody beautiful! You made me cry, I feel the same about my boy, but he is my first born, and I love hime fiercely!
Happy Birthday to your gorgeous boy/ man, and I hope he has a wonderful day! xx
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:13 pmThanks Deb, he had a brilliant day…lots of smiles xx
Brooke says
March 15, 2016 at 11:52 amOh Jen. I have followed you for a while now and I’m not very ‘vocal’ on facey – but I just wanted to say that this one pulled on the old heartstrings! It’s so tough watching our boys become men! A mixture of pride, terror and overwhelming love!! Like some of the other ladies have said, I would love to go back and soak it all up, not be in such a hurry, play play PLAY!! Mine’s just moved to Darwin (from Perth!) to work on the pearl boats!! He’s a little Alby Mangels!! So weird to be proud and heart broken at the same time!! Anyway – happy 18th to your spunky boy! Much love, Brooke xxx p.s I also love throwing around the old ‘I pushed you out of my vag’ just to get the reaction ? I’m sure they love it secretly!! ???
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:15 pmHow exciting for your lad Beooke, sooo many wonderful adventures and life lessons on the path he has chosen. Must be tough having him move so far away though.
The ‘vag’ comment never gets old ???
Andrea says
March 15, 2016 at 12:04 pmOh no! Has me bawling!!!! So bittersweet! We just have to love them and enjoy being with them, whatever age really, don’t we?! Happy birthday to your gorgeoys boy! And Happy birthingthruthevagina day to you Jen!!! Lol x
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:12 pmHaha, thanks Andrea. You’re right, we love through everything, unconditionally xx
SUzie Mc says
March 15, 2016 at 1:06 pmHappy Birthday to your lad… I know 18 it happens in a blink of an eye, our eldest turns 18 next month..so resonated with this, I love Little Bear too, ours hated shopping too (oh the tanties) such a special time every step of the way, its an honour isnt it <3
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:12 pmWasn’t ‘Little Bear’ just the cutest most delightful?! Happy birthday to your lad for next month Suzie…big celebrations planned??
Beck says
March 15, 2016 at 5:40 pmSuch a sweet post Jen. Happy birthday to your baby boy. xx
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:10 pmThanks Beck, he had a wonderful day x
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid says
March 16, 2016 at 5:41 amThis is so gorgeous, Jen! I think I have something in my eye. It doesn’t matter how old he is, he’ll always be your baby! Happy Birthday to your boy! Or should I say man?!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:10 pmHe really will always be my baby Sammie, even though he’s a giant xx
Beth at AlmostPosh.com says
March 16, 2016 at 10:00 amSo lovely. My baby turned three on Monday . . . already I’m wondering where that time has gone!
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:09 pmEnjoy it ALL Beth. Happy birthday to your girl xx
Paula says
March 16, 2016 at 7:44 pmI think I just wiped away a tear! Love the way you write & mother love for your baby. He’s a gorgeous I want to say kid but young man. Well done Jenni you did good. X
Jenni says
March 16, 2016 at 9:08 pmThanks Paula, he’s a joy to parent xx
Desley Baird says
September 11, 2016 at 10:25 amReading these words of yours that are filled with so much love & pride- oh how I wish more mums & dad could feel the same way about their children & put it into words! There are too many unloved & unappreciated kids in this world.
Happy birthday to your handsome son!