****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!**** ****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!**** ****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!**** ****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!**** ****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!**** ****Warning!!! Spew Alert!!!!****
Yes, today is my 43rd birthday. It was not until recently that birthdays became a time of reflection.
This only started in the past 5 years... Then it hits me. I have children. Those kids change your life forever.
I immediately became old. Yes, but I say that with a bit of pride. I am wise, I can honestly look at my kids and say to them "Because I know better and you don't."
So please be clear aging does have it benefits.
Oh, but I digressed.
So this morning I wake up, the kids have once again managed to sneak into my bed in the middle of the night and practically push me on the floor.
And they do not come in until that last 2 hours or REM sleep to start the I want breakfast thing. You know that howling that kids make when they are hungry and the sun has not come up just yet.
Ok, so I woke up this morning and told the kids that it was my birthday.
Oh the chorus of "Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo... You look like a monkey and you smell like one toooooo!!!" is still ringing in my head.
My husband calls to wish me Happy Birthday, it is a really good morning so far.
Then it happens, that thing ...
My daughter says to me "Mama how old are you?"
Now I am debating do I tell her the truth and have to start that old conversation with her or do I make up something funny and push her along. It is 7.30am. We still have 30 minutes. Oh lets just jump in and get it over...
"I'm 43. Why do you ask?"
"43!! 43!!! 43!!!"
"Yep, I am 43."
"Mama you are so old. Oh my do you know how old 43 is. I don't. How do you do it?"
So now for the speech...
"Chi-Chi, Getting older is not that bad. You make it sound like it is not fun. You get to have fun along the way. You will be able to drive and vote. You will have great opportunities to do great stuff and have great memories.
You will be able to have a family of your own one day and share all those wonderful experiences."
Just like at 5 year old, she looks at me and says with the just tell me the truth look, "Mama you have to tell me, does getting old hurt?"
I of course go on to explain that somethings in life are painful but we grow and live through them.
She stops me in mid sentence and says "No Mama does it hurt?"
Oh my all I could do was laugh. And I looked at her and said,"Yes, my back is killing me every time I big you up and carry you down the stairs for breakfast. Yes, my hands are starting to get stiff every time I have to put together another piece of Ikea furniture for your room. Yes, my eyes are starting to go bad and I need my reading glasses at night to make sure that we get through the Christmas Carol in time for Santa. Yes Chi Chi, getting old does hurt, sometimes."
Without missing a beat she says, "But all that stuff is fun! Do you think that it is worth it?"
And I responded, "A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y!"
I look at my iPhone and realize it is 10 minutes to 8 and we now need to rush. So I tell her to hurry and get ready so that we will not be late.
She say to me "Why?"
And I just said, "Because I am your Mama and I said so, Now Hurry Up or we will be late for school. Run!"
Getting old has its graces.
until we meet again,
Happy BIrthday! Celebrate good 'n hard, girlfriend!
~R
Posted by: Roxi | 10 December 2008 at 10:13 AM
Happy Birthday to yooouuu...You live in a zooooo...
Wait. You were probably expecting something a little more adult. Nope. Not from me!!
Posted by: carla | 10 December 2008 at 01:08 PM
Happy Birthday, my friend. I'd say go out and party, but you know, you might just be too damn old for that. LOL! Hope you had a great day. You could have come and played in the ice and snow with me....you're missing out.
Posted by: Lara | 10 December 2008 at 07:54 PM
Happy Birthday Lauren!!! As always, wishing you everything great and wonderful!
Posted by: Valonda | 11 December 2008 at 10:52 AM
Thanks so much for the wonderful birthday wishes. It was a fantastic day!
love ya like cooked food,
Lauren
Posted by: lauren | 15 December 2008 at 12:43 AM
Happy Birthday to you, you and another very important person in my life share a birthday.... who you ask well my dad, he is 68 now, so you have many years to go girl.... hope you had a wonderful day.
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | 15 December 2008 at 08:43 AM
happy belated birthday..been kind of crazy the last couple of weeks..glad to hear that 43 is not to bad since i wll be hitting it 26 days:D
Posted by: Michelle | 15 December 2008 at 02:57 PM