Love forever, Mom

A friend of mine pointed out that is has been five weeks since I last wrote. Bad blogger! It wouldn't be right to let May slip away without so much as one post, so tonight, I take you back one month...to Daniel's 18th birthday.

What 18-year-old wants to spend his entire birthday with his mom? Not any I know, yet there we were--Daniel, his girlfriend, Savanna, Phillip, and myself--having breakfast at Denny's (his choice); walking around downtown; watching Sixth Sense with his dad, his grandparents, and some of his friends; smiling over cake and ice cream; hanging out at the pizza parlor in the evening.

And somewhere in there, this magical moment happened:

When Daniel was a little boy, I would read him the children's book Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, just about every day. What a joy it was then, that on his birthday, we should stumble upon a tiny, used bookstore in the downtown area, which happened to have a copy of this delightful little tome. Right there, in the dimly-lit, stuffy, back room of this quiet book shop, he read to me the words that once I could only read to him: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my Mommy you'll be."

For a mom who was feeling no small amount of consternation over my baby boy growing up, I think Daniel did a gracious job of easing me into becoming the mother of an adult. In a couple of days he graduates from high school; in the fall he starts classes at Bakersfield College. Even though one day he'll leave the nest, for the time being, he still resides under my roof. He's even agreed to co-produce a blog with his dear, old mom (coming soon!). Thank you, Daniel. I know whatever the future brings, "as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

Visions of Daniel

Daniel is growing up. He is in his last few months of childhood, racing toward and reaching adulthood before the beginning of May. This year he will turn 18.  It's hard to believe. (Of course, this year will also be a milestone for me: 40. But that's another post.)

Tonight is about Daniel and his ever-evolving persona and character. These shots were taken in the room in his grandparents' house which has been designated as his. It is interesting to see this creation, this son, becoming his own person and developing his own culture. He is so much like and unlike his mother--so free, independent, creative, moody, gifted, intense.

He is as much the mirror, as the reflection.