10/13/10

13 Has Always Been Her Lucky Number..





Dear Bitchy,

Twenty-ONE years ago today your entry into this world taught me the meaning of true honest to God joy. I don’t think I can adequately describe that feeling in my heart when I first laid my eyes on you. I’ve learned so many more things from you since then.

I’ve learned how to laugh from deep down in my soul. I’ve laughed at you, I’ve laughed because of you, and of late - I’ve laughed with you.

I’ve learned the true meaning of fear, and the many faces fear has: the first STEP fear; the bicycle with no training wheels fear; the dealing with mean girls fear and the watching you enter middle school fear.

But, my darling, when you turned 16, you showed my heart the toughest meaning of fear. The kind of fear that creeps into a mother’s heart late at night and grips it so tightly it almost stops beating. I also learned to live with that fear, so that you could live your life, and make your own mistakes. (That was a tough one.) I've learned to harness that fear and turn it into hope.

You’ve also taught me that no matter how many mistakes I make, no matter how many times I embarrass you and no matter how many times I scream at you – you still love me. For that, I am most grateful.

And so, on this very special day, I want to tell you this. I loved the little girl who ran away from home to the backyard when I wouldn’t make her soup; I loved the little girl who in middle school got detention for spraying perfume on Jack Sprat; and I loved the young woman who in high school learned some tough, heartbreaking, valuable life lessons. You took them to heart and paved a new path for yourself – and that made me very, very proud.

Most importantly, I love you for who you are right now.



You are a part of my heart, my soul and my dreams. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.


Happy Birthday my darling Bitchy. I love you more than you will ever know. Well, except when you have a bitchy of your very own. Then you will know........only then.




(It's a repost from last year- her 20th. However, I'm too verkelmpt to write a new one. Plus, we're meeting for a DRINK, and i have to get ready!!.)

79 comments:

Joanie said...

Happy Birthday, Bitchy! Your mom is so proud of you...it's apparent in every word she writes.

Heather said...

Perfect and just right. Junior High is much harder than High School. I have taught both and in High School they soften.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Happy happy birthday, sweetheart. I'd get you a present, but you already have the best mom on the planet!

PS to VM: Linky love on the Dove contest at my place tomorrow. :D

Unknown said...

Oh what a post....that one makes this mama cry. What a beautiful post to your daughter and I know I will be learning some of those same fearful lessons. And yes, those teenage lessons scare me the most.

Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter. Thank God for daughters.

SG said...

Lovely! A slightly different post from you.. this one... a very happy birthday to your dear daughter!

Mike said...

Ahhh, nothing more moving than a Mother's love! (Unless, of course, you are in your mid 20's and your Mom is psycho like mine! haha!)

Happy Birthday Bitchy! (I almost cannot believe that I just wrote that) LOL!

cheatymoon said...

Congrats to you, VM, for making it this far. She wouldn't be who she is without your love and guidance. xo

Vodka Logic said...

A beautiful post. What a joy it is to watch our children grow to be beautiful young woman.

It is funny to read the love and you still call her Bitchy...

xx

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday Bitchy!

And thanks for giving your mom so many wonderful topics to write about.

J

WeaselMomma said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy!

Beth said...

Happy Birthday to your girl! It IS hard to sit back and watch our kids make their own mistakes. Why can't they learn from ours?

mommakin said...

Aw, Happy Birthday, Bitchy! Many happy returns to you both!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy!
Thank you for just being you :)

And I want that pumpkin mug!

Peace - Rene

Melisa Wells said...

Happy Birthday! Great post! :)

S said...

Sniff. Happy Birthday, B. Or S. :)

Formerly known as Frau said...

Ah! Happy Birthday Bitchy! What a wonderful tribute to your baby girl.

Scope said...

Wait, there at the end. Did you just issue the "Mother's Curse" on you daughter on her 20th birthday?

Did you just say, "May you have a child EXACTLY LIKE YOU WERE!"???

:-)

Mrs. E said...

Great post! And Happy B-day to your little girl!

mo.stoneskin said...

Awwwww. Beautiful.

I can't believe you didn't make her soup. What kind of mother I...I mean I expect you had good reasons...

IB said...

That was very cool. You both rock.

Happy Birthday, kid. Give your mom a hug for us.

SkylersDad said...

Very nice tribute, Happy Birthday Bitchy!

Ladybird World Mother said...

Happy birthday, Bitchy!!! (Must say, have never written those three words together before...)
have a wonderful day....xxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

That was a real nice birthday gift to her! Way to go!

Anonymous said...

You are sooooo right. I never really knew how much my mom loved me until I had my first baby. Then I knew and was blown away at how much love you can have for someone.

And I love the tricycle picture, lol!

confused homemaker said...

Happy birthday!! Hope she has a great day:D

unmitigated me said...

My girlie will be 20 in 9 days. We can't be that old, can we? I must have been 15 when she was born.

Joanie said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy!!

for a different kind of girl said...

Happy birthday to your beautiful girl!

shrink on the couch said...

The meaning of love and the meaning of fear. You got that right, VM. I haven't gotten to the 16 year old fear yet, I'm skeert.

Happy Birthday, Bitchy! Thanks for letting your mom share so much of your life with us.

Possum said...

Oh yay!! Another birthday! Another excellent excuse to have chocolate cake!
Best wishes to both of you on this special day!

Mainly a midwife said...

Very nice post. So sweet. It really is amazing that our kids still love us in spite of ____. Whatever it is. Yelling, quick inaccurate judgments...
That's unconditional love and it always humbles me.
Hope your daughter has a wonderful day.

Unknown said...

I'm with Beth, why can't our kids learn from our mistakes; we sure as hell paid for them!

Happy birthday Bitchy!

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

So well put, lovely.
My youngest was a Friday the 13th baby. Her lucky number too.
20 is big, isn't it? No more teens.
Happy Birthday to the 2 of you!

Brian Miller said...

you know, just about everything about this post was beautiful. happy birthday!

Wendy said...

Oh VM, this made me teary-eyed.
It made me think of my oldest, who turns 20 next month. I only hope I can write something as heart-felt and beautiful to her for her special day...
=-)

Mary Anne said...

Happy birthday to you BOTH!
My girl is ten, and I have fear of the fears to come . . .
Such a beautiful post . . .

Loukia said...

What a touching post... so beautiful. Happy Birthday to your daughter!

midlife slices said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy!!!!

Keyona said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy! Thanks for giving your mom such love and not to mention great blog fodder! LOL!

Linda said...

Happy Birthday!
Isn't it nice to get to the "laughing with you" stage?

You always love your kids, but it's wonderful when you love being with them- say, in their 20's and not at 16! (at least not every day at 16)

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love the getting on the school bus photo. Such a classic photo for all we moms.

Di

Elenka said...

Happy, happy birthday sweet girl.
Tell your mom that I would never have named a child Bitchy. Didn't she have one of those little books with other names in it? ;-)

The Stiletto Mom said...

Awwww, happy birthday Bitchy! Pretty sure your mom loves you!!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Awesome birthday tribute...Happy Birthday Bitchy! :)

Sprite's Keeper said...

Happy birthday, Bitchy!

Carolyn...Online said...

Happy bitchy Birthday, Bitchy! You're a lucky little one.

ChiTown Girl said...

Happy, happy birthday, Bitchy!

The love for your baby oozes from this post! :)

Suzy said...

13 is my lucky number too but I don't hear you blowing MY HORN.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Happy Bitchy Birthday! Well done, well done!

Ambiance in the Attic said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy! You mom made me cry at this post. I hope you can feel how deeply she loves you!

Ekanthapadhikan said...

Convey my HAPPY B'DAY wishes to BITCHY!!! And I think you have the right reasons to be proud of your daughter.

Amy W said...

Happy Birthday, Bitchy!!! She may not be perfection, but your mom is never, ever boring and she loves you like nobody else ever could. :)

Proud Wifey And Mommii of 3 said...

Happy BIrthday!!!

We share the same birthday, Today I turned 25

Hope she has a great day!!!

Captain Dumbass said...

Happy Birthday, Bitchy.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

i loved this, vodka mom! happy birthday dear bitchy, happy bday to you!

laughingwolf said...

happy b'day, b :)

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Yes, Bitchy, we all love you. . . that is, until you do something to upset your mother. . .in which case, we'll all turn on you like a cheap pancake at the local diner.

OH. . .and don't forget 21 is right around the corner. We'll be watching you until then!

flutter said...

aw, mom.

Maureen B said...

Beautiful post, VM. Happy Birthday Bitchy!

Heidi said...

Happy Birthday Bitchy!
Thanks for sharing all your wonderful thoughts about your daughter, VM.
Mine's only 11, and it's already pretty scary at times.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Happy Birthday, Bitchy!

Liz Mays said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! I just can't call her that name. ;)

Liz Mays said...

It's not because I won't say the word. I just can't.

The Mind of a Mom said...

A very Happy Birthday!
Hope you have a wonderful day

Maggie May said...

Happy Birthday !!!

Phillipia said...

awww...what a sweet post. Happy Birthday, Bitchy!

I Wonder Wye said...

There really was a boy named Jack Sprat?? Seriously? Some parents. I have a few real ghost stories on my blog and one on there now, and saw that you like them.......13 is my lucky # also -- happy BD to the darling Bitchy.

anymommy said...

Sigh. I love you and your girls.

Anonymous said...

happy birthday to your girl

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Indeed a sweet letter to your daughter. You sound very proud of her. Makes it easier, doesn't it?

Cassie said...

Hope you have a great birthday Bitchy :o)

Kevin McKeever said...

Happy day, Bitchy. Go easy on mom, just this once.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm late to the party but wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many, many more!!!!
xo

Lisa Anne said...

Happy Birthday to her! Just visiting from Sits, thought I'd bring the donuts to go with your coffee!! I love vanilla creamer in mine. LOL

Lynn said...

Great tribute to your daughter.
Funny, too!

Kate Coveny Hood said...

This brings a tear to my eye...

As Cape Cod Turns said...

Very sweet! Go out and enjoy her company at a bar! Weird, right?

Cora said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BITCHY!!!! :-)

Bodaciousboomer said...

You know the really good news? You'll only get closer from here on. Our daughter turns 25 last month and now we're actually friends too. It's great.