A Simple Birthday Message

For J, who turns nineteen today…

I knew I wanted to write a post on your birthday, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to say.

I kind of wanted to say that I can’t believe you are nineteen already but that, although true, sounds overdone.

I definitely wanted to write about how I have just one more year of saying I have a teenaged kid, but that’s stating the obvious…

I was going to write that I am so proud of the young man you have become. You’re a caring, thoughtful, and responsible person, and I couldn’t ask for any more than that. You care about your school work and, really, anything else into which you invest effort.

I was going to mention how much you make me laugh, especially when you think that I haven’t caught something you said because I don’t laugh quickly enough. (“Good talk!” after a half-eye roll is one of my favorites.)

I thought it would be fun to write about how much I love that you think working out is awesome, because I do too and I love that we have that in common. I like when you imitate the HodgeTwins. (see above, re: how much you make me laugh)

I could’ve probably mentioned that I have been thinking a lot lately about how, when you were a toddler, you went through that really long phase of introducing me. Like when you stood up and held your arm out in my direction and screamed, “Ladies and gentlemen, introducing…MAMAAAAA!!!” Nobody has ever introduced me better than that and I would love if somehow that little guy could come back every now and then and let people know I’m entering the room.

I also could have written about how lucky I am to be your mom, but that probably would have embarrassed you in public.

So I guess all I will do is tell you that I love you and I hope you have a fabulous birthday!

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