It’s so hard to believe that today is my first born sons 18th birthday. I closed my eyes for a moment and suddenly a young man stood where a boy used to be. The thing that astounds me most is how quickly the time has gone by.
Dear Son,
It’s a mothers prerogative to allow her emotions to overwhelm her at certain points of her life. Her first born son turning 18 is one of those times. You are standing on the edge of adulthood, you have stars in your eyes and the world at your feet. Your ready to move on to the next phase in your life, wish I was as well.
I’ve been thinking about the day you were born: It was Sunday night as I sat watching a movie, I felt a trickle of fluid ( no contractions) it was 3 weeks before your due date. We called the the doctor and were told to go to the hospital. We had just purchased a brand new Jeep Cherokee so I sat on a shower curtain and towels in case my water burst in the car.
It was a cold and snowing Kansas City night, my focal point during the 9 hours of labor was the window. You were born at 6:40 AM shortly there after a nurse placed you on my heart and my world forever changed. I felt like I was the luckiest mom alive to have you for my son. I looked towards the window to thank God for the gift he had just given me. There was a sparkling glimmer as a result of the sunlight reflecting off the snow, I think that was Gods way of saying your welcome. I often see that same glimmer in your eyes especially when you are happy, excited and laughing out loud.
Parenting you is the greatest blessing I have ever received. It’s been 18 years of pure emotion, love frustration, worry, joy, anger. Sometimes the emotion isn’t even mine but yours. When you’re happy, mad, excited, heartbroken I feel those things too. I often wonder if I was the best mother I could be especially the year before and after the divorce…oh how I wish I could have spared you the pain. I pray that the choices I’ve made along the way have been the right ones for you and most importantly that you always knew I loved you even when I was angry at you.
I love that you kiss me good bye every time you walk out the door. I love that you text me from school to tell me your test score after a late night of studying. I also love that you value my wisdom and ask me what you should do in certain situations. I hope I’ve given you all the tools you need to make it in this world without to much difficultly. I know the day is coming when I’ll no longer be a part of your everyday life. It will be the occasional Sunday dinners if you live near by or just the holidays and that makes me very sad.
You are very resourceful and when you want something bad enough you make it happen. Like last summer when you wanted to learn how to play golf so you got a job at the golf course that included free membership. Your great at fixing things it amazes me that you can install a bolted door lock and fix your truck by only watching a video….you got that from your Dad because diagrams and instructions give me a headache.
You are a handsome and smart young man with a very bright future. Your an Eagle Scout taking both high school and college classes. You already know that you want to major in petroleum engineering and know where you want to work after graduation. I’m sure that with your willpower and determination you will have a successful carer. I’m so proud of the young man that you have grown to be.
I know you have been looking forward to turning 18 because in the eyes of the law your an adult. It’s finally the year when new doors open and independence just oozes out of you. Just understand that every adult decision has an adult consequence! You are responsible for your own life. Your happiness, your fortune, and your emotional well-being all essentially belong to you to control and steer. Make wise choices my son because somethings can not be undone.
I love you with every ounce of my being. I know in my heart that you will do amazing things in the future. Just know that if I hold on a bit too tight for your liking, it’s because my heart just can’t take the reality that my baby has grown up way to fast.
Thank you for making my life so much better, richer, more meaningful. I am so humbled and honored to be your mother.
Happy 18th Birthday Austin…I love you forever,
Mom
18th Birthday Letter
How many times have you been told “Enjoy it while they’re little! It goes by so fast!”? It was hard to believe when he was a toddler, but the years definitely went by way fast once he started school.
Denea
How sweet is this! I love writing my kids letters for every birthdays. This is so emotional and so honest. Love this!
Ana De- Jesus
Aw Austin sounds like the perfect son. It is great that he is so driven and works hard for his success, I respect that.
Kimberly
Wow! That really pulls on my heart strings. I am pregnant with baby boy #2 and love my boys.
Bianca Jenson
Kimberly,
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I love being a mother of two boys 3 years apart an added bonus your doors are always open for you and so are the jars. 🙂
Lucy Valdez
What a special day! I love this idea:) I feel like there is so much we want to say to them as parents that we neglect to share for whatever reason and this is the perfect way to let them know how we feel <3
Bianca Jenson
Lucy,
Totally agree there has been many times that I’ve started to say something and then got interrupted and never said it.
Cassandra
Heart touching! This is a treasure that he will always have. I feel these days slipping away as my Mini Me turned double digits last year. It does go by so fast!
Jill Conyers
It blows my mind how quickly time goes by after you have kids. Enjoy every single precious moment.
Wendy
This is so sweet that it brought tears to my eyes. It sounds like your son is amazing, which is all we can hope for, right? I can’t imagine my boys turning 18 – I know I am going to blink and be there though.
Bianca Jenson
Wendy,
Thank you…
Yes my prayer is that both of my sons turn out to be amazing adults that care about the well being of others.
Amanda Love
Where does the time go! They grow up so fast and sometimes it’s hard for us moms to let them go and be their own person. This was such a very moving letter and I can feel the love that you have for your son by reading it.
Bianca Jenson
Amanda,
Thanks, and yes letting go is definitely hard for me, but I’m working on it.
Debra
This is such a sweet letter. The days are long and the years are very short. So beautiful!
Bianca Jenson
Debra,
Thanks…as I get older even the days seem shorter.
Michelle
What a sweet and lovely way to mark such an important event. Those days can be long but the years go waaaaaay too fast!
Roxanne
Awe what a lovely letter. It will be a wonderful gift for him to treasure. I agree the days are long, but the years are short. You are on to a new phase to enjoy!! Happy birthday Austin!
Bianca Jenson
Roxanne,
Austin told me he wants his children to read the letter someday (placed it in his scrapbook) so I think he might already treasure it.
Rebecca Bryant
This made my heart smile and shed a tear, My son is 16 and will soon be on the verge of adulthood too. It is so hard to believe how fast the time went.
Bianca Jenson
Rebecca,
It took me weeks to compose the letter because I would start crying and have to stop. Ahh I remember 16, he got his drivers license on his birthday and I worried every time he pulled out of the driveway. Two years later, he’s a great driver even in Houston traffic.
Terri Steffes
No fair! Tearjerker with no warning! I loved your letter. I’m also a Missouri girl, assuming you are in KCMO.
Bianca Jenson
Terri,
No I’m a Texas girl born and raised, he was named after the state capital. At the time he was born we lived in Kansas City Mo. ( for 5 years) love the area. We missed Texas, like crazy so we moved back home.
Casey
This is such a sweet letter! And your son sounds like a great young man. That’s so sweet he texts you after doing well on his tests.
Bianca Jenson
Casey,
Hope the texting will continue into his college years….(it probably won’t) LOL.
Vickey
What a beautiful, heartfelt letter. He sounds like he has grown into a wonderful young man.