Thirteen years ago I was just a few hours from having my 2nd baby. My hunch the whole time I was pregnant was that I was having another boy. I just always thought I would be the mother of boys. Even though this pregnancy was so different from my first I felt in my bones this baby will be my son. My husband and my oldest child (he was 2 at the time) both thought 'girl'. In fact Roland would say "Mama it's a girl". I would say "It may be a boy too." "No. It's a girl!" Whose gonna argue with a 2 year old? And around 3:50 am. May 8th 2005. Mothers Day that year my 9.9lbs baby was placed in my arms and was announced a 'girl'. . . for a little while . . .
As it happens I was right all along. (dust my shoulders off) It just took a few years to present. he he he. I am the luckiest woman, that this beautiful soul of a child chose me to be his mother. From the day he was born until this very minute he has brought so much joy, laughter and creativity into our lives.
Edwin has the biggest heart, loves to make people laugh and smile, he is an artist, writer, animator, loves to make hilariously weird video clips, he loves music and researching the artists, he loves his friends and his cousins, and is a F*R*I*E*N*D*S #superfan spouting off random facts about the show, he loves to play hockey and basketball, skateboarding, biking and his newest endeavour is dirt biking (just like his Dad and Bro).
Edwin has been such an adventure. Teaching us about ourselves ALL. THE. TIME....just by being himself. His authentic, truth living, brave, strong, kind, friendly, wise self.
So now on the eve of Edwin's 13th Birthday...I simply reflect. I do this every year but tonight the lump in my throat is a little bigger...but so is my heart...because...so much has changed since that night... and...well....my chubby baby is now a TEENAGER.
The pure magic in the room when he made his way earth side, pushed out through my body, into the hands of his Dad, under the watchful eyes of my Mom and Sister. It's a feeling i'll never forget.
Love
Marcia xo
You've seen them around town...
groups (or even on their own) tweens and teens ...
riding bikes, skateboards, scooters, walking, running, laughing, looking at their smart phones...connecting, talking, yelling, hoot and hollering, dare I say it a little obnoxious at times.
Now I dare you to think back to when you were that age.
Got it pictured?
Think back to a moment when you were truly wild and carefree...what that felt like...who you were with...
Wasn't it wonderful?
Sigh...
We parents are met with a constant barrage of disapproval if we 'let' our tween/teens roam the town (Free Range Parenting) to 'hang out' with and 'meet up' with friends...we are also met with equal disapproval if we don't...we "shelter them too much", "helicopter over them", "let the kids be and have some freedom like in the 'old day (1980's and under)". (Every child is different (obvie) your child will be ready when they are ready, you'll instinctively know when that is.)
Here is my recent observations.
These are our kids, they (mostly) come from good homes, with parents and families who love them very much, who HAVE taught and are still teaching right from wrong. However, we cannot be with them at all times, so please keep in mind when you see our children out and about they are being carefree, testing out what they have learnt, getting used to their new bodies and minds (remember puberty? yay...that was a bit of a trip), they are not trying to get in your way or annoy you, they are probably just so focused on landing a 'bunny hop' off the sidewalk with their skateboard. They are not trying to get hit by a car while riding their bike, they are just coming off the sidewalk on to the road, or being a goof to make their friends laugh.
Part of our collective job as a community (and as drivers) is to also watch out for all children while they navigate their freedom through our town and essentially through life.
When you see a group of our kids...running amok, wild in the streets, take a conscious minute to enjoy that scene of pure freedom and fun, of unadulterated carefree living at it's best.
This magiCALMess Parenting moment is brought to you by me:
Marcia
Have a clever&lovely day
