Saturday, April 26, 2014

Happy Birthday Baby

Kelsey having a ball
Dear Kelsey,
Today you aren't a teenager anymore and I'm no longer the mom of a teenager. Any teenagers.
You might think you got the short end of the stick, being born last that is. You are "the baby." You will always be "the baby." You might be 20 or 30 or even 50, but "the baby" is your spot and yours only.  

So let one of my gifts to you today (in addition to the material ones) be a reminder to you that being the baby is its own special gift.

You got 2 parents who were tired. (I've come to see "benign neglect" as not such a bad thing after all.) 
You had 4 older people in your life who instantly doted on you, carried you everywhere, and dressed you up like their own little doll. Who wouldn't love all that attention?
You wore the most new clothes of anyone. The hand me downs were all worn out by the time they got to you, and frankly, I was growing tired of them myself.
You had access to all the toys. Your room was "the toy room." 

Now that you are making your own way in the world, you have 2 parents and 4 brothers and sisters who couldn't be more proud of you. You still have your cheering section!

In the words of a well-known picture book: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Love you lots!
Mom