14 July 2009

Happy Birthday

My one and only baby is eighteen years old today. It doesn't seem that long ago since she was a helpless little bundle that was so eager to get into this world she barely gave me time to get to the hospital and made her entrance just 90 minutes later.

I thank her for all the joy she has given me over the years...a joy I thought I would never see once I reached the dreaded forty. I thank her for all her love, her hard work at school, her comfort in dark times, her laughter and most of all for just being there. I thank her for keeping me sane. I apologise for being a ham-fisted mum at the start and not knowing which end was which when trying to apply the first nappy! I apologise for sometimes playing the bad cop, when she needed telling. Most of all I apologise for bringing her into this alcoholic environment that most kids should not have to experience.

She is a joy to behold - I wish I could share a photo with you - but for obvious reasons cannot, as I am sure you will appreciate. Trust me, she is stunning and turns heads. She has a wise head on her young shoulders. After all, she survived a trip to the Guatemalan jungle last year and came back in one piece. She knows the dangers of alcohol and promises me she will not drink to excess. She has seen the results painfully too often. However, as the youngest in her school year, she has had to sit out on too many friends' outings to clubs and pubs, as she did not have the requisite 18-year-old ID. She is at least very keen to try that out as soon as she can.

She and I are planning to wander around central London today and do whatever we fancy. Predictably Greg is not up to coming with us. (He has just come back with his daily purchase of whisky). I shall take Kay into a pub and get her to order some drinks with our lunch! Then tonight a quiet meal out somewhere. She is planning a birthday outing later in the week with her friends and they intend to go clubbing till the wee small hours of the morning. Just because they can and are old enough. My baby is no more. My grandmother used to say "small children, small worries; big children, big worries." It's true. When they are little you worry about them falling over and grazing their knee. When they older, you worry about the pressure they are put under at school. As they reach adulthood, you wonder what smart young boy is going to drive her into a tree at 60 miles an hour. I suppose you never stop worrying, but you have to let go. For their peace of mind and yours!

So happy birthday, darling, and have a wonderful day.

16 comments:

Nota Bene said...

Very happy birthday Kay! May you celebrate this one well...and all the rest to follow.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic post. Best wishes to Kay on a very special day. Please don't be too hard on yourself. None of us are perfect parents and there are some things in life that we are not responsible for. From what I have read in your blog you have been a great mum and I am sure your daughter really treasures that fact.

I hope the two of you enjoy a great day today. How time flies eh?

All the best

Nechtan

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

Hope you both have a lovely day. On my 18th birthday my dad and stepmum took me to dinner at the Savoy, both got paralytically drunk and we all got thrown out. They could never understand why I didn't think in retrospect it was hilariously funny.

And Happy Bastille Day, while we're at it!

Stinking Billy said...

Rosiero, your grandmother knew a thing or three. I don't recall ever hearing the phrase "small children small worries, big children, big worries" but it just about says it all, for me. Beautifully written, sweetheart. x

grandmamargie said...

A very Happy Birthday, Kay. And many more. And yes, you are right, you never quit worrying about your children. And then the grandchildren too. But it seems as if you've raised yours to do well and be just fine. Congratulations, Mom. Have a grand time with your daughter on her special day. Before you know it, she'll be 25. :)

Wendy said...

Happy Birthday Kay!

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Happy Birthday Kay! I know what you mean, Rosiero, just having little ones and they do grow up so quickly. I'm sure I'll never stop worrying either!

P.S. A Hadriana award for you over at mine :)

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

What a beautiful tribute to your gorgeous daughter Kay. She is certainly one very special young lady and has an equally special Mum. I hope you both had a marvellous day. Linda xoxo

Anonymous said...

A huge happy birthday to Kay. Have a wondering time together.

CJ xx

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

A lovely post Rosiero, for your lovely daughter. I had tears in my eyes as I read it. I can just imagine how you are feeling, most of us had those "green horn" moments and look back and wonder how we all survived! My daughter will be 40 later this year and now has a little girl of her own - I can hardly believe where the years have gone. Please wish Kay a very happy birthday from me and I hope you have a lovely day together. Hugs A x

Saz said...

Ahhh a lovely post and belated happy greetings to Kay!! My tall girl will be 18 in December, something for which she will never forgive me a December birthday three days after Christmas....

taking her to the pub sounds like a great idea..
So you know of the magic of Zakynthos then, great memories, we too went often to Porto Roma on the back of the bike one holiday we had a jeep too and managed down to the then deserted bar the turtles, Xacania beach, where we bathed naked and chatted with the Wildlife people about turtles...sigh!

tim1leg said...

yes happy birthday to your wee girl who by the sound of things YOU should be really proud of. I just came across your blow from the daily dose website and am so glad i did. I will forward it to my sister who has recently started going to alanon in the hope that she will get some comfort and identification. I really will look forward to your blogs as they are so well written, honest, and real. Thankyou for sharing with us all.
Annemarie x

Flowerpot said...

Happy birthday to your special Big Girl. What a day - and hope you both enjoy it as much as you deserve.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Yes, happy birthday Kay and also you Rosiero. After all, it's your big day to too. Enjoy. Incidentally, I loved tim1leg's comments. It only goes to show you don't know who is watching you and what impact you can have on their lives. Well done darling on all that you have achieved this last few months.

Kit Courteney said...

I very much hope your daughter had a lovely birthday.

You make her sound utterly charming and very beautiful so I dare say she is those things and more... you have clearly done a wonderful job in raising her under such circumstances.

May she have many, many, many happy birthdays :0)

Ellen said...

Congratulations to Kay on her 18th Birthday. Kay is a very lucky girl to have such a wise, loving and considerate mother and you have been blessed with a wonderful daughter. I hope Kay enjoys her birthday celebrations this weekend - times to treasure.

Wishing you and Kay a well deserved, relaxing summer holiday in Greece - enjoy.