Real Families, Real Stories
Erik you are
eighteen years old today. Eighteen. I can barely fathom it. Oh, the things we
have been through!
We made it, son.
We made it to adulthood. How many times have I wondered if we would? All the
battles, challenges, obstacles, and failures. All the tears, breakdowns,
tantrums, and hysterics. All the defeats and disappointments. The trials, and
the trials, and the trials! All the therapy, education, tutoring, and advocacy.
And behavior modification. Oh yes, the grueling behavior modification.
Through all this,
you never gave up. Not on yourself, not on me. Never on me. Not ever on me.
I applaud you. I
applaud your life, your strength, your kindness, your generosity. I live for
you. For your joy, your laughter, your embrace, your love. Your untainted,
unburdened love.
I congratulate you
on your successes, your achievements, your victories. They belong to you and
you alone.
I thank you for
seeing me through and keeping me going. For the hugs when your instincts
declared my needs to your heart of hearts. For the intense enjoyment you get
over the ultimate nerdy side of me, to which you are the only witness. For your
wild, spontaneous humor so often responsible for lightening a heavy mood.
I am indebted to
you for the tears that spoke eloquently of your own heartache from time to
time. For the celebratory ecstasy over the little, beautiful pleasures which
would otherwise have gone unnoticed. For the emphatic gestures you implement to
get your message across, just another source of amusement. For teaching me
about emotional purity and forgiveness.
You are eighteen
now. You are a man. You are eighteen now, yet forever my baby boy.
Yes, son, we made
it! Happy Birthday to You!
By Linnea
We want to feature your stories for our Real Life, Real Stories campaign. We are looking for stories between 300-600 words. Send your stories to idsc.reality@gmail.com
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2 comments:
What a beautiful letter..brought tears. This is a letter all moms could write to a child becoming an adult. it is so heartfelt. Thank you for sharing it and thank you for the love and believing you have given to your wonderful son.
March 16, 2013
Linnea,
First of all - Happy Birthday, Erik!
Secondly - What a beautiful tribute to your man. Always so overwhelmed by your generous sharing of your children, especially, Erik and your life. You put it all so well. You show emotions and strength at the same time-which is not often easy.
Congratulations on coming this far w/such an outstanding boy & bringing him all the way to adulthood. And thank you for sharing it all w/us. God chose you as the special one & you have chosen us to bring us along on this trip of wonder w/you. You choosing us makes us special.
Many more years & many more wonders together.
Love, Penny
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