How is it even conceivable that I am writing about Birthday Wishes For my Newly Minted 17 year old Boy?
How is it possible that my little sandy haired blue eyed baby- is 17 years old today? And why am I feeling so melancholy about the whole affair? I mean, really I’m not- I don’t think I’d trade his 13-year-old self the confident, funny, opinionated, strong and yes even at times silly boy who makes every part of my daily experience richer by his mere presence for his baby days. But still when I see a little boy wearing a cute little tuxedo, with his Bart Simpson hair I do get a little bit wistful for the days when my son was just so enamored with me to the point where he’d let me dress him in bow ties and literally hung on my every last word.
Our relationship is evolving and I am constantly aware, or at least trying to be, of allowing him the independence to explore what he’s passionate about, to flex his decision -making skills and to just be. But it is hard feeling and seeing him slip away from me- not needing or wanting me to be as entrenched in his life as I used to be- but of course– I need to remember it’s not all about me and so I’m sharing my Birthday Wishes For my Newly Minted 17 year old Boy!
I grew up with a mother who was the paradigm of femininity with her perfectly coiffed hair and manicured nails, a woman who wouldn’t dare leave the house without her stockings and pair of high heel pumps. In a house where delicate ivory curtains adorned every window and Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazines were a permanent fixture on the coffee table, my sisters and I were completely clueless about the likes and dislikes of the male persuasion.
In fact, until I started dating, I barely knew the difference between a baseball and basketball, and had never even been to a sporting event. My poor dad was simply outnumbered until my brother came along when I was 12 years old. When I got married I realized I had a pretty tough learning curve ahead of me, and while I thought marriage would ultimately given me a bird’s eye view into the evolution of men, mothering a son has provided me with my greatest insight into the secret early beginnings of boys, who ultimately become these men. I absolutely believe in nature vs. nurture. As soon as they pulled my son from my womb I’m sure he must’ve been clutching a matchbox car, action figure or dinosaur!
So what are my Birthday Wishes For my Newly Minted 17 year old Boy?
At 17 years old , he’s firmly made clear his likes and dislikes; who knew a boy could keep the laws of the jewish religion 24 hours a day while helping my husband and I balance our financial portfolios and “force us to watch vintage presidential debates while he provides a running commentary” ?! Although I never imagined I’d be remotely interested in these things I am because I desperately want to share his passions.
I am constantly reminded about the fragility of life and that every day with my son is a gift and I am well- aware that the mother son relationship will likely be the most important and influential one of his life. So just what are my Birthday Wishes For my Newly Minted 17 year old Boy? My wish is that I get to be his touchstone and that well of strength for him, his soft place to fall as he continues to experience the highs and lows that will inevitably befall him
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