Sunday, March 14, 2010

A Day Without Sunshine

My nickname for my oldest son John David is Sunshine. (O.K. already started crying after writing this first sentence.)

John turns 18 today. 18! He's not here this weekend. His girlfriends grandpa died, so he's about 2 hours away in Tawas for the weekend. I can't put into words about how his turning 18 makes me feel. I don't know how this possibly happened. The worn out cliches about time flying are flying right into my face right now.

His life hasn't always been as easy as I've wanted it, and he may not always follow the path that I want for him, but I couldn't possibly be more proud of my handsome, funny, brilliant boy man.



I had John in 1992. I was 25 & had been married for almost 3 years. But in the 90's most women were waiting until their 30's or even 40's to have kids. It was the time of the career woman, so most of his peer's parents are older than I am. I loved being a "young" mom and still do.

He was a true baby of the 90's. I dressed him in tiny flannel shirts & workboots to reflect the grunge movement that was going on at the time. There was an unfortunate mullet that I made him wear when he was little, but his dad had one too, so who knew?

With 18 comes the ability for him to buy cigarettes (yep, he smokes), get the tattoo that he's been wanting, and the requirement to register for the draft. No more child support from his dad, Asshat, John is considered an adult now. How can he be an adult, when he is still my baby?

26 comments:

sAm said...

OK - I teared up a bit, too. I dread/look forward to the day my baby turns 18. Happy Birthday, John (and MOM!!).

Jill said...

I've had two turn 18 so far (four to go) and it doesn't get any easier. My oldest turned 21(!) Friday. How did they get older when we didn't? And why is it that when I was 18, I seemed so much older in my own mind then my kids do now?

Sidereal Day said...

Made me tear up too. My boy is only 5, but even those years have zipped by like nothing. I'm sure he will always be my baby, just like I will always be my Moms baby.
Happy 18th Birthday John!

MrsM said...

Awwwww-I completely understand! Our oldest just turned 6 yesterday and I thought I was going to drown in the puddle of tears I was crying off and on all day. I do it every year...

Congrats to your baby on being a man (at least to the rest of the world!) and happy Mom Anniversary to you =)

Queenie Jeannie said...

Happy Birthday John David!!!

And don't worry about your Mom, she's a lot tougher than she knows!

Gosh - I have so "been there, done that" with Alex and Shane. Alex is 20 and Shane turns 18 in a couple of weeks. Thank GOD I still have The Bella!!!!!

Sueann said...

No matter how old they get...they will also be your baby! Mine is 41 now and has five babies of his own. LOL!!!
Hugs
SueAnn

He & Me + 3 said...

happy Birthday to your first born. He is so handsome. So sorry to hear about his girlfriends grandpa.

Sam said...

Looks like I'm the only commenter without kids.. but as one that turned 18 only (almost) 3 years ago, don't worry, no matter how old we get, we always need our moms, and they always have a very special, very BIG place in our hearts! :)

Happy birthday to your son!

p.s. love the word asshat! hehee

A 2 Z said...

Hi Mimi,

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I know what you mean. My baby just turned 20. Just when you start enjoying them they turn into adults LOL. Enjoyed my visit, will be back!

Amy said...

Happy Birthday to him..
Yes, he will always be your baby.

mindy said...

Happy Birthday to your 18 year old son! My babies are 7 and 3 and based on how fast the last few years have gone, I imagine they'll both be 18 in about three months. I feel ya!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!!
Mindy
www.thesuburbanlife.com

Eileen {bluebirdluxe} said...

Hi Mimi~ Happy Birthday to your baby boy! You raised him to be a fine young man ~ as his girlfriends family can truly appreciate, as he's there taking care of their baby girl! :)

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today and welcoming me to SITS!

theUngourmet said...

What a nice looking young man. He has kind eyes! Happy Birthday to your son! :)

Stephanie R. said...

handsome guy you have there....

Your post is beautiful, but I can "hear" the heartbreak behind it- I dread the grown up post- thank god I still have a bit.

It sounds like you have raised a nice young adult- whats a tattoo going to hurt, even the best of us have them ;) could be worse right =]

Dalia (Generation X Mom) said...

Ugh! Why does time go so fast! Mine will be 13 this year and I am dreading that, thing is I know how soon 18 will come. It seems he was just 8 so I know how fast 5 years goes! I guess it is just life, right? Didn't it seem time went so slow when you were a kid?

Rebecca Jo said...

He'll ALWAYS be your baby... age doesnt define that :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting my blog today. My son turned 20 last week. 20! I remember when he hit 18 I felt very old suddenly. And then I realized that when we went to the pediatrician (yes, still going there) my son had to sign things and I had not rights to even be told a thing!

Emily said...

Well sweetie, I can most certainly relate to what you are feeling!! My "baby" Matthew will be 22, his brother Jason will be 36 and my oldest son James will be 45 this fall and I am still wondering where all the years have gone! It seems just yesterday they were babies!!! And yes, I am quite teary at the moment. You have a very special young man there!! :)

Gabby Malcuit said...

How sweet. I know I'll be like this when my baby gets older even though I have a hard time imagining my mother felt this way.

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

I loved this post. I too was 25 when my daughter Kat was born. I was a young mom too...she was a baby of the 80s...I had two step children by the time she was born...that were 10 years older than her...so it was always like having two different families. My step son was only 15 years younger than me...so I was a baby mom then. I loved it!...my baby will be 30 in June. I can't believe it...but even today...when she is hurting, celebrating, bored...whatever...I still get a call...oh..and we also call each other when the song Quinn The Eskimo comes on...it is our song. LOL.

Diane said...

he is so handsome!! all grown up, huh? bittersweet.

i love you!

Jennifer said...

Aw--so sweet! Happy birthday to your baby!!

Robin said...

Awww..those milestones..they get ya every time..he is so handsome...my gals are 18 and 21...they also want the tatts and piercings..Oh well they need to form their own identity...Have a great day..!

Rachael said...

Happy belated birthday to your awesome son!

Lita C. Malicdem said...

Belated Happy Birthday to John David! I was 31 when my 2nd daughter, Julie Racquel came around. When she was 18, my husband threw her a debut party. That was Oct. 15, her last day of college exams.

Her elder sister, Roma Raponcel, who was on earlier college semestral break, did the wonderful job preparing invitations and looking for the venue for the occasion with help from an Auntie. My husband and I couldn't do the job. He and I were at a hospital only imagining how lovely our baby was. After midnight, she came with her birthday cake and in her debutante's dress that brought supreme happiness to her father. Her Dad was fighting for dear life with cancer. He died at home November 20. My baby is now a lawyer.

said...

Honey, I don't know how they get to be so old when we NEED them to stay small!

xoxo