Friday, May 3, 2019

Gifts


Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, 1997

As I said to a dear friend this morning, there is no better birthday gift than to know your children are happy and thriving. My daughter got offered a promotion to manager at her job yesterday, which, if she takes it (and I'm guessing she will), means that she will have gone from assistant to coordinator to manager in the three years since graduating college. She's very excited, although she went in to HR this morning to negotiate compensation, the way any man in her position would not hesitate to do. You go, girl. Meanwhile my son, who is now installed in his assigned firehouse, called me yesterday to ask what time he should come over for cake and candles today. In our conversation, I asked how things were going. He exhaled in that way that holds within it a touch of awe, and he said. "Mom, I love my job. I truly believe this is what I am meant to do." And so in ways that matter, this is indeed a happy birthday.

18 comments:

  1. Congratulations to your daughter! How exciting! And you are so right about having our children happy - it IS a gift, one that not every parent has. Thank you for reminding me of that.

    Happy day and year, birthday twin :D

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    1. Jenny! Happy birthday my birthday twin! I hope you day was wonderful!

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  2. May your birthday and the coming year be blessed in all ways. I look forward to reading the book you will be writing this year.

    Always, I am touched by your love for your children and their love for you.

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    1. am, thank you, dear friend. i look forward to writing the book i will be writing this year!

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  3. Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating! You have such lovely (grown) kids! I always love hearing about them! Congratulations to your daughter and to your son!

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    1. Thank you, dear Drita! My grown kids seem to be okay right now, with solid values and lovely partners. Dare I exhale? Dare we ever?

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  4. That truly is the best gift. Happy birthday!

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    1. Lily, thank you for the birthday wishes, friend!

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  5. The gift of love is truly the best gift. You've got it all. Happy birthday!

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    1. dear robin, the gift of love. yes, everything.

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  6. I would say that you are very lucky but the truth of the matter is- you and your husband have done an amazing job raising up those two beautiful children in love and teaching them by example that dreams can come true if the work is done to make it so.
    And in this, you have gifted the planet.

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    1. Darling Mary, I think so much of it is dumb luck. But they are truly good kids, for all their quirks. Just like your beautiful family. And arent the quirks fun sometimes!

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  7. Absolutely! It's got to be so satisfying knowing your kids are doing what they love and are good at it!

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    1. Steve, it has been so fascinating to watch their journey unfold. My daughter accepted her new job today. She actually got offered not one, but TWO jobs last week. She's doing something right.

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  8. Oh, and happy birthday! As Ms. Moon said, good, productive children do not happen by accident.

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  9. Happy birthday, I am sure it was a good day and your family made it extra special. Oh yes, children are a gift. They teach us.

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    1. Sabine, they do indeed teach us. And they are frankly my favorite teachers, too. Love.

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