We are right in the midst of what I call “Birthday Season”. Between December 2nd through January 3rd there are 5 birthdays in our family. That is our immediate family – my husband, children and myself. In mid-November, our eldest daughter turned 13. I get very reflective this time of year.
I remember so well the first night in the hospital when I was first a mother. Of course, believing life begins at conception, I was technically a mother for months prior to that day. It didn’t actually sink in until that night though.
I was awake often throughout that night – holding and gazing at our little blessing, feeding her, changing her and a few panic moments. Those moments when she is finally sleeping and I am just sure she stopped breathing. So I reach over and touch her, jostle her gentle so she moves. Then of course, it starts over again.
I was so unsure of myself. I just knew I was doing it all wrong. Then someone reminded me, it might have been my mama or one of my aunts, “she’s new at this too. She’s never had a mother feeding her, changing her, etc. You’ll figure it out together.”
Wise words. And words I have often reminded myself of years later. In our early years of homeschooling (will she ever learn to read? Am I ruining her!?). This firstborn has been quite the guinea pig, figuring it all out with me. I’m sure we’ll figure out this whole “teenager” thing, too. We do know one thing, “teenager” in our family doesn’t have to mean the same thing it does in other families. Pretty much like everything else about our family. We find our way is just that, Ours.