Fifteen years ago today...

The day was sunny, the temperature in the 70s, the sky a bright blue. At least it was for the few minutes I went outdoors. I spent most of that day indoors. In labor. The nurses thought a walk would be good for me, so DH crept down the hallway with his grunting wife, and we went and stood on the hospital steps.

The theory that a beautiful day will distract you from what ails you is not entirely true. I lasted as long as it took for another contraction to start. That was enough nature for one day. I wanted my hospital bed, and I wanted drugs.

But it was a beautiful day after all, because it ended up giving me this:

My first born, The Teen, who is today even more teeny. Fifteen years! How did that happen??

And for all of you who have been whining and whinging about the wintry weather this weekend, let me just remind that you fourteen years ago today, we had a snowstorm:

Don't let it get to you, folks. And if the weather doesn't suit you, there are always ways to distract yourself. For example, eating cake.

In true maternal fashion, I can't believe these pictures are 15 and 14 years old. It makes me reflect on the journey of being a mother, which inevitably leads to worrying about all the mistakes I've made--especially with the oldest. Unlike knitting, there is no tinking or frogging. No re-do. I just have to hope that the things I've done right ultimately outweight the things I've screwed up.

I'm cautiously optimistic. He's a pretty good kid. Well--he's a teenager. But things could be far, far worse. He has a wicked sense of humor. I heard a story once about a mother who had trained her kids that instead of saying "please" when they wanted something, they would say to her, "you're thin and beautiful." When The Teen was around 10, I told him that story and suggested that would be a good way to get what he wanted. The next day he asked for something. "What do you say?" I asked. He thought for a moment, then completely straight-faced said, "You're not fat and ugly?"

It's a joy to watch him grow up and become a real person. There are so many moments I will never forget--regrettably, some of those include the horror of going to movie theaters to watch Pokemon movies ("Gotta catch 'em all, POKEMON!"). From cuddly toddler playing with his Thomas the Tank Engine train pieces to the cute schoolboy sounding out the words on his Pokemon cards to the preteen obsessed with Star Wars and pie to the death-metal loving Guitar Hero addict, every stage has been completely different.

And for that I'm very, very thankful on this chilly, windy Minnesota day. The weather can do whatever it likes on April 28. Because this day is special, no matter what.

Comments

[elizabeth]

So sweet. And encouraging, as the mom of a 12 1/2 year old whose firmly between "little boy" and "teen."

[knittymama]

Happy birthday to the Teen!!

[Celia]

Aw. What a boy. He will only get more interesting from here.

[Bellezza]

It's nice to "meet" you via the comment you left on The Russian Literature Challenge.

I, too, have a dear one who's now a Teen. Blessed are we, although some days more than others. Mine is now 17, and making up for lost time in ways he wasn't rebellious before. :)

You blog is lovely.

[kate]

Ah, these life milestones. Love the pictures. We will always worry, don't you think? (And what was his reaction to the pictures being on the internet?)

If it makes you feel any better, Pokemon never seems to go away. My 8 year old is moving out of it now, but last year it was ALL pokemon. Although, I liked it because it got him hooked on books (had to read all the chapter books).

[Carrie K]

Happy Birthday to the Teen!

You can't tink kids? Dang.

(Tomatos can also be eaten like apples. Slightly more messy apples).

[kmkat]

You are an awesome mom and I'm sure he is an awesome kid. Gotta be. HB2him. Oh, and the head-banger music thing? Andrew was wearing a Slayer t-shirt yesterday. No worries.

[Chris]

Happy birthday to the More-Teen-Than-Ever Teen!

[Jeanne]

Happy B-day Teen!

[Marsha]

What a lovely post! My own daughter was due on April 28 but kept us waiting another week. She'll be three on May 6...and in the blink of an eye she'll be fifteen, too.

[bezzie]

Awwww! I hope that in 8 years I'll be able to say the same stuff!!! Happy Birthday kiddo!

[Nora]

Happy birthday, Teen! He was a beautiful little guy - I just love that newborn shot with his hands up by his head! Make sure Mom has some chocolate today, too, OK?

[deb]

Happy happiest of bdays to the teen!!

[Carole]

Happy Birthday to both of you!

[cari]

Happy birthday to the teen and happy birthing day to you!

[Deb]

what an adorable newborn pic!

[Miss T]

Happy Birthday, Teen!

Fifteen. Stunning. Does he still hang on to his hat like that? I love that picture!

[Maria]

Congratulations on surviving 15 years. My son turned 13 today and I just did a post. We are blessed to have our sons, aren't we? Mine is at home in Minnesota, and I'm not there. Waaaaaa!

[cursingmama]

I love the first picture - with his arms on his head wordlessly declaring "does she ever stop with the picture taking?!"

[Sarah R]

Love that first picture. Looks as though he's thinking "Get this hat off me! It's not a knit!"

Man, the time does go fast. (She says with an over 20 year old coming home from college this week.)

[Kitt]

Aw, sweet. Happy birthday to the young man! And to his mom!

[AllyB]

Congratulations Amy. And best wishes to the birthday boy!