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It’s October and I’m very excited to be taking part in Blogtober 2020 which involves blogging everyday through October using prompts.
Todays prompt is Sweet Child of Mine. I’m recycling an old post today. Said eldest about to turn 18 is now 20 but all still pretty much applies !!
When your first born child is about to turn 18 there’s a lot of room for soul searching.
18 , that’s huge right ? I have grown a human to adulthood. Me , the girl who can’t keep a plant alive and who loses her purse weekly. Yet there is a man in the world that I grew in my actual body . Who I gave birth to despite my freakishly low pain threshold and who has managed to survive living with me for 18 years and still be relatively sane.
Is this the end point then? What we’ve been leading up to all this time. Can I look at this man and decide whether or not I did a good job. This man I made ?
Except , I didn’t make him or shape him really. The first born well he kinda did things his own way from the off. I’m sure some of my influence has to have rubbed off somewhere and there are genes in there I’m certainly responsible for. However I didn’t make this person.
He made me.
That sweaty August day when we first locked eyes , I was looking at a teeny tiny human who I needed to look after , all the time , forever. He was looking at a 20 year old girl who didn’t have a clue . Not. A . Clue.
He turned me into a mum ,that tiny baby.
He taught me resilience. He suffered horrid colic for months. Every night bang on time the screaming would start . I just felt helpless, he was in pain and I couldn’t help what kind of mum was I??? Every night I was sure I couldn’t get through it , every night we did and the next day , and the one after that.
He taught me how much my mum loved me. My mum died a year , almost to the day , before my son was born. I didn’t fall in love with J the second our eyes met. I’d have been so ashamed to admit that once , but it’s true . That rush of love I’d read about….well there was nothing much there. Weeks later though , during a night feed it just came. In a rush and completely overwhelming . I literally gasped …”I’d die for you ” I told him . “I’d kill for you ” it was massive and so intense and in that second I realised this was how my mum must have felt about me . I’d never been able to comprehend it before. That was an eye opener.
He taught me selflessness. I’m sure some people know this without having to have a baby . I needed it though. Putting another person ahead of yourself for every decision you make. It’s a biggie . I never would have known it if my son hadn’t taught me.
He taught me creativity. Nothing like your first World Book Day to make you learn how to think on your feet. His first ,he went as Harry Potter. I made glasses , I took ages drawing the perfect scar. I made a cloak of invisibility and believe me had I the know how to have made it actually work I really would have done. We won by the way . Not that it matters ….but WE DID!!!!
It’s more than just the big things though.
It’s the little things that have changed me , the tiny blink and you’ll miss them things.
I care about Hull City , like really care and Formula one and Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I knew episodes of The Tweenies by heart , I was into Balamory !! His enthusiasm for anything is so infectious I can’t help but invest in it myself .
My son took a terrified 20 year old and over 18 years of love and work and tweaking made her into a mum. For him she could get through the bleakest of times . For him she could look an impossible situation square on , put her head down and just take it on. For him she could be braver than she ever thought possible .
All the children have left their mark on who I am , probably way more than I have them.
The first one though , he taught me to be a mum and I am forever grateful.
Also. One day when he was 4. I saw Doctor Who was making a comeback. I had never seen it before but I had a feeling this was something my son and I should watch together(also have the Billie crush). Oh didn’t we just , haven’t we just. I’m not sure how much of series 1 he took in but that’s ok because we’ve revisited it many many times!!
Doctor Who is ‘our’ thing. He can pick out an episode to suit my mood , we can spend many a day binging and not get bored. One day J I promise I will watch The Angels Take Manhattan RIGHT to the end without weeping .
Because of my son I was introduced to another love of my life in Doctor Who and I hope that we’ll always be able to squeeze in an episode or two .
He moulded me that amazing boy , and thank goodness for that.
I’m taking part in the Mummy Monday linky with Becca from Becca Blogs It Out
I cannot imagine my little girl all grown up and ready to face the world on her own. Scary thought!
#triumphanttales
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Bit of a wowser there, Kelly! Gorgeous post … lucky boy … and lucky mum … lucky Kelly. But I dare say luck had bugger-all to do with it! #TriumphantTales
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Ah I think there is a fair bit of luck!!! He was the trick to make me think this parenting lark was easy. Fell for it too!!!
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Sounds like you’re kind of glad you did (fall for it)!
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Yeah….vast majority of the time!!!
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I always have so much to think about and say on your posts. I too have an almost 18 year old so empathise with a lot of what you say but I was a much older mum than you were especially as you say that I have managed to get him to nearly 18 in the first place. Colic is rotten – fortunately it did not come until baby number 3 for me so not too much of a shock in some ways although still rotten. And you are so right how becoming a mum makes you realise why you mum was the way she was sometimes. I felt that first when I became a step parent which I did before having my own child in that habit I have of doing things in the wrong order. And it sounds like you are blessed with a good relationship with your child-man and I have this too and I feel so grateful for that. And yes Doctor Who – so many happy bonding memories around that one. Lovely post #TriumphantTales
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Thank you Kate. Yes it’s a really odd time isn’t it !! Aaarrggh v glad days of colic and sleepless nights are in the past though
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Awwww Kelly, this left me with tears in my eyes. What a stunning read with all the good feels. So many vivid memories, no doubt you are both each others rocks. Thanks for joining us for the #dreamteam xx
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Aaaww thank you so much !!!
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A great tread again. From #BlogCrush
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Omg blubbing right now! I wrote a similar post as my daughter is 18. It’s amazing isn’t it? I ask myself, how did that happen?
#blogcrush
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Ahhhhh it’s so strange ,can’t really remember a time he wasn’t around yet 18???That’s nuts !!!
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This is deeply touching to me – as I can relate with my grown children. Wonderfully expressed post xx
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Thank you !!!xx
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Kelly, such a beautiful post! One everyone awaiting their first child should read. Sorry your mum missed out on seeing you be a mum. 😦
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Aww thank you
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What a really beautiful post, I think sometimes we forget the things that our children taught us.
#blogcrush
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What a gorgeous post! And a brilliant way to turn around the perspective. My little one is already almost 2 and it’s already mind blowing how far we have both come!
Congratulations on your journey with your young man!
#BlogCrush
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Thank you !!!
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Your son is nearly the age you were when you became his mum! how astounding is that! Well done you and him for growing together. My son is 20, i was 30 when i had him. And i feel the same as you xxx #dreamteam
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Yes !!!this stat blows my mind xxx
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This is one powerful post.. I’ve no doubt that you’ve both helped in shaping each other. #DreamTeam
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Our children definitely shape our lives and change us. My son is 20 now and he (and my daughter) have definitely shaped my life in the most fantastic way.
#TriumphantTales
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How lovely. Your tales of motherhood summed up really nicely. It’s true it changes you and you put them first. Yes I would save my daughter overvmevin a blink of an eye too.
I’m sure you have made him who he is too.
#BlogCrush
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Mine may be a long way off 18 but I totally get ‘he made me’. These babies who turn into children have no idea what impact they have. Totally life changing in the best way possible. Love this post. Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales!
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Sweet read xx
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Aww this is an amazing post! Mine are 10 years off however I completely agree with you, they are the ones that make us, we don’t make them! Such a lovely post 🙂
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You don’t even look old enough to have an eighteen year old. But I can imagine it’s a time for soul searching. Even thought my daughter is just four I can say that she’s had change me so much as a person. If it wasn’t for her coming into my life I wouldn’t be the person I am today and I have her to thank for that’s.
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Oooo thanks I’ll take that compliment !!!😀
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Wow all the way to 18… Good for you!
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I can’t imagine my twins turning 18. Also, it makes me feel old to think the “new” dr who was that long ago 😂
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Ha ha yes me too!!! Was only couple years back surely !!! Ha!
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Wow, this is not something I’ve ever expirenced as I chose not to have children. Maybe a selfish dicision but I stuck to it.
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Not selfish at all!!!Everyone is different!!
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You have such a lovely way with words. This is a beautiful post, full of love and emotion and it made me feel all tingly! I can’t even imagine my children hitting that milestone…I’m willing life to slow down just a little. #MummyMonday
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Yes it’s pretty fast paced stuff!!! Aaaww thank you
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Such a great insightful post
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Well this has made me want to cry. A beautiful post with so much emotion. Really lovely read x
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Thank you so much!!
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Such a powerful post! I can relate to the feeling of “I’d do anything for my children”. I feel a lump in my throat now. Thanks for this!
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I became a mum for the first time at the age you became a mum of an 18 year old. I have a long time till I have a grown man as a son, But I do hope I have a similar bond as you seem to have your son.
I can totally relate to not feeling that instant bond with my baby. I instantly felt responsible for him, but the bond and love came a short while later.
A really lovely post to read, thanks for sharing. #MummyMonday
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Yes that’s exactly it . Feeling responsible but the bond and love came after
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What a beautiful relationship you have! So lovely to read… In the blink of an eye, they grow up. Oy! #blogcrush xoxo
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Popping back via #BlogCrush – yours is one of those blogs that lifts my soul and is so different from the run of the mill ones out there.
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Awww thank you that’s a lovely thing to say
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Lovely description of motherhood. It’s such a wild, unexpected transformation. #blogcrush
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Oh I got goosebumps where you described the rush of love that suddenly came in the middle of the night – that’s exactly like it was for me with my 2nd child. It’s amazing what we learn from our children and what strength we suddenly find that we have – they think we can do anything, and that gives us confidence to do more and be more than we ever thought possible. What a beautiful piece of writing #blogcrush
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Thank you so much
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Our children are the making of us. No matter how much or how little we prepare for parenthood it still takes us by surprise
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Such a beautiful post you have written on motherhood and all that it has to offer x
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Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous post to read. I’m with you on the creativity front; being a mum certainly teaches you so much about yourself that you’d never know otherwise. What a lucky boy you have to have you as his mother.
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Wonderfully written, loving it how so positively emotional. I wonder how will I feel when my children turn 18.
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This is a wonderful post. I read it with a tear in my eye. My eldest is ten years behind yours but even so I have grown and learnt so much through becoming his mum. He and his brothers shape me and influence me constantly, and I love that we grow and evolve as a family. Thank you for sharing this with #Blogstravaganza 🙂
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Thanks for hosting. It’s great to link up with other bloggers. #BlogCrush
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#thesatsesh you wise lady, of course you are right – we dot raise them, they share us.
I can’t express how much i adore this post x much love
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How beautiful this post is! I feel exactly the same about my eldest, in many ways they forge the way for the others to follow. I loved every word of this. Thanks so much for sharing with us at #TweensTeensBeyond
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This post made me tear up. This was such a beautiful post. I am not a mom, but I hope to have a relationship with my children in the future as you describe.
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