This day 18 years ago our son arrived into this crazy world. The scent of lilies are like a time machine for me, straight back to the ward in the Coombe to my bed opposite the confident assertive lady who called her son Jay. She seemed to have it all under control. I felt so out of my depth, shell shocked but with a fierce love and terrible fear of my little baby, all at the same time. Donnachadh was the talk of the maternity ward. Gorgeous, he is...look at de hair on him...Jaysus he’s only massive the nursing staff doted as they peered into his see-through cot. They reckoned he had the most luscious head of black hair for a newborn. He never lost it. He immediately became known to us, his brand new naïve parents, as The Small Man, all 10lb 8oz of him. I couldn’t believe he was mine and I asked as much in the delivery suite. His journey wasn’t easy and he was tardy, five days over. All in his own good time. Still the same. No panic lads. He’s the most intelligent, the wittiest, the most handsome person I know. He’s kind and loyal. I admire his discipline and self-motivation. He makes a mean omelette. He is a legend biscuit eater but cannot abide almonds and powdery apples. As a baby he never kept his socks on. No change their either. Under the coffee table and behind, underneath or between the cushions of the sofa are home to his socks today. Our house is not without its rows, like any house with teens who jostle for their voice to be heard among the myriad of pressures they face and the concerns they harbour. He’s a big brother and his sisters are stone mad about him; they may not say it, but they are. We all are. When he’s happy, sad, up, down, stressed, elated, we love the bones of him. We wish him contentment and success in everything he does whatever that may be. And so to our Small Man on his birthday; don’t worry so much, especially about what other people think, don’t be too hard on yourself and things have a way of working themselves out. I hope perhaps someday you will be as proud of yourself as we have been and continue to be, of you. Happy Birthday xx
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