My oldest daughter will celebrate her 16th birthday this week. That seems absurd and incredibly difficult to believe considering that I’ll be celebrating my 29th birthday again this fall…
My girl was just a year old when we moved away from our family and friends. A new home, a new town; we spent a lot of time together – just her and I. Those days lent credence to the saying ‘the days are long, but the years are short.’ Time felt infinite and I was certain that the life lessons I needed to share with her could wait for another day.
That seems like a lifetime ago.
We surprised her with a little soiree ahead of her birthday – a few friends, some simple fun and lots of laughs. I insisted on giving her her ‘sentimental’ gift that night because I’m no longer good at waiting. Time is suddenly fleeting and there’s so much I need her to know before it’s too late.
Too late? What a terrible thought.
Becoming her mom was life changing. For a long time I referred to it as a game changer, but I was wrong. Motherhood was certainly life changing but game changers are different. Game changers define life into the before and after, the life lived and the life worth living. Cancer was my game changer. It shifted life from some day to today. It shifted time from infinite to finite. It shifted….everything….even the way I choose to be Mom.
I’m oddly grateful for that.
She is my wild, free spirit; my dreamer, my reckless abandon. Taming her was the futile and pointless job of her before mom. Her after mom knows that sixteen years went by in the blink of an eye. After Mom understands that reckless abandon may be the only way – the best way – to enjoy a life well lived.
Happy sweet 16 to my reckless abandon.
Love you always,
After Mom
My girls will join me once again this October for my 3rd “after mom” half marathon to benefit Sparrow’s Nest. I love sharing this with them and I love being able to pay forward the kindness that was shown to us during my game changer. With your help, I will be able to feed a family living through a cancer diagnosis for one year. Please consider making a donation of any amount by visiting Sparrow’s Nest
Many thanks!
The Happiness Trick 