Birthdays are special in my family. As a child, my mom always greeted my birthday with a smile and a song. Even now, my first phone call bright and early on my birthday is from my Dad. I think he secretly always wants to be the first to wish me Happy Birthday. This is preceded by my mom singing through the receiver at the top of her lungs. Always a great way to start the day.
I now torture my own children with these morning greetings on their birthdays. I’m not sure if they exactly appreciate it right now, but it’s my hope that deep down they do. Teenagers have a way of scrunching up their faces in disgust even though they love the attention. So this morning I’m excited to wish my wonderful son Austin a very Happy 20th Birthday! Since he’s been home for the holidays, he has reminded me every time I try to “mother” him that he is an adult. “Mom, I’m 20 now!”, has been his response to my request to be careful on the icy roads, to go to bed before midnight and to stop eating so much junk food.
Austin was born on a very cold, snowy morning in Greenwich, Connecticut and it wasn’t exactly easy. I won’t go into details, but let’s just it wasn’t a day in Binney Park. My family had traveled to stay with me during the holidays and my mom often jokes that she thought she was going to have to “boil water” at Christmas Eve mass. I was two weeks overdue already and my Jewish OBGYN just couldn’t help but tease me about a Christmas baby. “I’m available that day!” he used to joke every time I’d make an office visit. He was so cute, I didn’t mind the harassment. My husband’s birthday was the day after Christmas and he was hoping to share the day with his new son. However, both days past and no baby. My Dad and brother had to leave to get back to work in Oklahoma. Mom stayed and kept me company until finally the doctor decided to start the process.
I spent several days at Greenwich hospital with Austin. We watched the ball drop on New Year’s Eve from my hospital bed and I celebrated 1990 alone with my beautiful new baby. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Twenty years later, I wait for him to get up so I can greet him with a smile and song. He has brought such joy to me these past 20 years! Yes, he is an adult now, but he will always be my baby boy. Happy Birthday Austin!
Tags: birthday, children, Connecticut
One comment
Posted by: Jo on December 29, 2009 at 6:22 pm
And yes, the red dress from “Mother’s Work” was stunning at Christmas Eve Mass, and yes, I did think we might have to “boil water” for a delivery that night. But Aus came in his own (and the doctor’s) sweet time on the morning of the 28th. We all love him very much.