Today marks my son’s 18th Birthday. Today, he is officially an adult. It’s never been my own birthdays that made me feel older, it’s been my kids.
My son skipped second grade, so he graduated early. He had planned to go to college up north, but it didn’t work out, so he is home. He is getting a little college in this year, though, at the local community college. There’s no student loans so far, we (mostly me) are paying as we go.
He’s involving himself in various artistic projects and I have noticed a growing passion and purpose among some of his endeavors. He’s tried to get a regular job, but the economy has stopped him. He may have some new options now that he’s 18, so he’ll explore those. The last six months, especially, he has grown tremendously. I am very proud.
This year’s Christmas was especially light. I earned gift cards online and ordered books, which are still enroute, but they’ll come. We saw family Christmas Eve, went to church that night, rented movies and had spaghetti on Christmas Day.
Yesterday, two new babies were born in my family. My niece has a new baby boy, and my nephew has a baby girl. My niece’s baby is going through a bit of a hard time, but we are praying for them both- as well as my nephew’s family. We all have our twists and turns and bumps and bruises along the way. But we get up, find something new. Life is constant revision.
And of course, this time next week we will have started a New Year. A few weeks later there will be a new president. Another new chapter will start that is sure to bring hope, fear, joy, disappointment, and surprises. But in the end, we grow, emerge a stronger more mature nation– or even world. That kind of thing tends to be contagious.
Many of us will be making resolutions, again. I will probably have a few, and most likely I will break most of them. But hopefully, something will stick. I’ll be able to glance back over my shoulder as say, “Yes, I have moved forward.” I’ll pat myself on the back for my accomplishments, consider the areas where I’ve fallen short and pledge to do better.
That newness isn’t reserved for newborns– or even eighteen year olds. It’s for all of us. And we can take a little dose whenever we need it- not just with the new year.
Gretchen Lee Bourquin is the author of No Sensible People available on Amazon.com and Lulu.com
