Wednesday, April 4, 2012
BIRTHDAY BLUES....How can a year go by so fast? Reflections from a mom of quads...{Jami Ronda}
Ah, birthdays! The word makes me think of cake and bright candles. That was until I had my babies. Once they arrived birthdays became something different, theirs anyway. Each one marks the milestones and the weeks that precede them have become, on occasion, a time of real sadness for me. I'm embarrassed to admit that, but it's true. They are another year older, another year closer to leaving home. How can a year go by so fast?
My crew of 4 is about to turn 16 and in 10 days we’ll have a house full of about 20 of their friends to celebrate. (Yes, I’m a little afraid!) Where did the little people go who smothered me with drooly baby kisses and clung to my legs when they were nervous? I miss them. Some days I want them back so much!
When my kids became teenagers, that was tough…thirteen…stop, no more birthdays! My 3 boys had already gotten less touchy; I figured by 16 they would never hug me anymore. Thankfully I was wrong. My daughter and I still have never had a yelling match either. People tell you having a teenage daughter is really challenging at times, but thankfully it hasn’t been the case...
Reflecting on the past year is a good thing. I have a friend who writes her children letters on their birthdays. I always meant to do that. I’m sorry to say, my brain has been too much mush to think of writing 4 solid letters to my kids at the same time. I am afraid the pages of any letters I might write would just have been filled with gushing mommy sentiments and stained with countless tears. (If I wrote them throughout the year, though, that could work!) Yes, reflection is good, but sadness for what is gone is probably not so healthy to dwell on. It’s good to take inventory on all that happened and to learn from the parts where maybe things didn’t quite go the right way. It’s also a time to celebrate every victory and all the laughter.
It’s a time to be inspired for the memories
we are going to create in the year ahead.
As my kids get 2 years closer to official adulthood and I get another year under my belt of growing in my trust of God, I see that it really is going to be fine. Their lives are not about me or their daddy; they are making their own lives, even now. God is forming them into the adults He means for them to be…and He is always on watch. So, it’s time to celebrate another year and to cherish every bit of it…the good, the bad, and the drolly!
Yes, enjoy the slobber, you will miss it one day, I promise!
Jami... is a mom to teenaged quadruplets and wife to her best friend, her knight in dented armor. Her "almost 15" year old crew consists of one girly tomboy and 3 strapping young men, one who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 7th grade. With kids now in high school [the same school she and her hubby shared a locker in!], keeping up with everyone keeps her busy as a stay at home mom. Check out Jami's Blog at www.momsflightschool.wordpress.com
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