My New Happy: A Letter To T On His Birthday

Thursday, September 18, 2014

A Letter To T On His Birthday


Dear T-

Today you turn 17 years old.  How is that possible?

You entered our lives on an early fall morning.  After many months of causing all sorts of problems, your birth was calm and peaceful.  

From the very beginning you were the kind of child every parent hopes to have.  You slept through the night at six weeks, and only cried when you were hungry or tired. Always smiling, always happy, quick to cuddle.  Holding you in my arms made me feel complete.


As you grew into boyhood, I realized how special you were.  So full of compassion and empathy for everyone around you.  Smart, thoughtful, sensitive, and kind.  I often looked into your eyes and wondered what was going on in that little brain of yours.


And now here you are, on the verge of becoming a man.  All of those sweet boyhood qualities have remained, but you've become so much more.  You are strong, decisive, fiercely loyal, and determined.  You're also a complete and utter pain in the butt - but that goes with the teenage territory.  Your intelligence and quick wit save you most days. 

In a few short years you'll be heading off into the next phase of your life, and I'm already wondering how I'll get through each day without seeing your smiling face.


As you turn 17, my advice to you is this:  Enjoy every moment.  Always listen twice as much as you speak - you think you know everything, but you don't.  Be humble but be confident. Get up one more time than you fall down.  Keep your sense of humor and never stop laughing.  Whatever you are asked to do, do just a little bit more.  Respect has to be earned. Stay positive and seek happy.

And whether you like it or not, I'll always see you as my sweet little boy, no matter how old you are.  So deal with it.... Love, Mom

Happy Birthday!

29 comments:

  1. I just saw my 16 year-old son off to school, and then read this - and shed a few tears!
    Beautiful Lana - and you expressed a mother's sentiments perfectly. Happy Birthday to T!
    “Always listen twice as much as you speak” ... best advice ever :)

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    1. Thanks Susan. It goes so fast, doesn't it? If only he would listen to my advice - maybe someday!

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  2. awwww...so sweet! Happy Brithday T!

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  3. What a beautiful series of pix to celebrate your son's 17th birthday.

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  4. This is beautiful Lana, it was as if I was reading it to my son who is 18 and in his first year of college. They will always be our little boys even when they turn into young men! Happy Birthday and enjoy each and every day with him :)
    Nora
    www.jacketsociety.com

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    1. Thanks Nora. I'm sure it must be hard for you with your son off at college - I can't believe how fast the time goes!

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  5. I love this, I should do this for Grant each year.

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  6. So nicely done. Love the advice but especially the last line. I told my daughter the same thing moons ago. They will always be our babies. When My dad died he was still calling me baby and I was 35.

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    1. I'm always telling my sons to deal with it - and that they will understand someday when they have kids of their own.

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  7. Oh that baby photo totally did me in! I think I want to have four more babies now.
    This is beautiful. 17!

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    1. Thanks Tamara. I know, don't you want to pick him up and squeeze him? :)

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  8. I don't see our sons as babies any more (except in my dreams). The older one is 30 and married. However, I do understand what my 89 year old mother always says, "You never stop being the mother. "

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    1. That is so true - and you will never understand that until you become one.

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  9. So sweet! I have a 16 year old boy and I know what you mean about still seeing them as a sweet little boy. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of him and think who is that MAN? They grow and change so much in these years. Happy birthday to your son! :)

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    1. Thank you! I know, how did they get to be young men so quickly?

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  10. Awww. I love that last photo. Time goes by just too darn fast.

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    1. Thanks - I really like that last photo too, although it makes me kind of sad at the same time!

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  11. T is lucky to have a mom that appreciates him as much as you do Lana. T sounds like a wonderful young man.

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  12. Love this! Beautiful advice! My baby just turned 26. He's finally starting to listen to his mom again!

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  13. This is so so beautiful! It made me cry - I had such a hard time when my son turned five, feeling like the baby years are gone. I already know that 17 will come much too soon. Happy birthday to your gorgeous, sensitive, empathetic boy.

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    1. Thank you so much! Five years and the start of kindergarten were hard for me too. I don't know how the years go by so fast.

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  14. Happy 17th Birthday to your boy. Now that I am a mom myself, I definitely know how quickly time flies. =)

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    1. Awww, thanks. Time definitely seems to go faster when you're a mom!

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