My birthday morning started out like a lot of my mornings.
With one kid crying in his crib, the other complaining about a stomachache.
Frazzled because they had somehow managed to get up before me, meaning I had lost my work time, I stumbled to the bathroom to hurriedly brush my teeth and run a comb through my frizzy, slept-on-it-wet hair.
I’ll admit that I did have some kind-of birthday hopes for the day–perhaps a trip to the mall with my sister, a girls’ afternoon spent getting our nails done, a free Cinnabon cinnamon roll for Nurses’ Week–but I’m not sure what the day will hold now.
And I’m ok with that.
Because honestly? That’s my life.
Since the appearance of those two infamous lines, the past five years of my life have been spent rolling with the punches. Improvising as I go along, learning to trust and not stick to any rigid plan, even for something as simple as a day trip to the mall.
I read an article the other day in Time magazine about how 27 is a milestone birthday–the author spoke of the lessons she had learned and how she felt like 27 was a death of sorts.
And while the fact that 27 is a milestone was news to me, I understand a little bit about what she meant. I feel like my brain has permanently frozen on my age as 25. Today, I finally feel like am no longer a “young” mom. 27 is just respectable enough, even for someone who has three kids.
I’m not sad about getting older. In fact, I’m kind of excited.
Because through the muddled mess that the past 5 years of my life have felt like, the most important lesson I am (slowly) learning is to accept myself. To accept my hopes and dreams and skills and abilities and to not judge my life with anyone else’s yardstick.
Acceptance.
It’s my biggest goal for the next year and chapter in my life.
And I have my children to thank for introducing me. They have shown me acceptance, which is not the same as resignation, for the gift that it is. There is a certain beauty to giving up the fight, letting go of the guilt, accepting and moving through life, learning from our mistakes but not berating, growing and loving who we are.
Accepting and embracing the good with the bad.
The beautiful enduring.
Even in ways as small as waking up with a stomachache.
Happy birthday! I remember 27 well…. Wait till your 29, it really hits hard!! Ill be 30 in 2 months and I really feel like that’s the end of youth.
Happy birthday! I agree with Heidi on that one. I didn’t mind turning 27, but now I am 29 about to turn 30 NEXT MONTH! Yikes! I am definitely NOT ready for it. I don’t know but there will probably be tears. 27 to me is still young so just have fun and wait until you get to 29, lol.
I just found your blog yesterday. I think we have a lot in common ( I found myself pregnant at 20 yrs old and was a junior in college). At 27 I also do not feel like a young mom anymore and I don’t feel 27 either, but getting older does scare me when I think to myself that in 3 yrs I will be 30 and have a 10 yr old!
Oh ladies…..(sigh) you are still so young!!! The thirties are the best years of your lives. You are finally comfortable in your own skin, young enough to be able to keep up with your kids, they are not as demanding of your time, you are more secure in your relationships and jobs, and your aches and pains haven’t started yet. Just wait until you hit 40. That’s when the decline begins. Perimenopause, dealing with the teen years, decreased energy, empty nest, and beginning to worry about getting older, retirement, and all that comes with it. I wish I could turn 30 again…I’m a couple years from 50 and eek!!! You girls have fun and embrace your 30’s. I’m jealous.
Sorry to pipe up again, but I just turned 57, and I disagree. I’m having the best time of my life right now! With a few bumps in the road, my life has been getting better every year as I learn to make the most of what I have. Yay for getting older!
I’m not afraid of it and I definitely am looking forward to being more comfortable in my own skin! Whatever size it happens to be! 🙂
Happy birthday! Rosie (you know, of rosie-ablogformymom.blogspot.com) turned 27 on 4/25. It may make you feel better that she has even more children than you do (four) and looks younger than you do (about 17). She is always getting the “are all those children yours???” and other delightfully judgmental comments. Fun, huh?