How can my oldest child be 27?

Twenty seven years ago I had my first child. Twenty seven years? How is that even possible?

I remember being 27 myself. It doesn't seem that long ago and yet now my son Joe is that age. 27? That is nearly 30. If my baby boy is nearly 30 then I must be pushing 50! Half a century! How has that come around so fast? Surely 1988 wasn't that long ago?

I remember becoming a mum to Joe like it was yesterday. A terrified teenager. A baby that changed everything for the better. We embarked on an adventure together. Just me and him. The two of us. Mother and son against the world. We did OK!

Time kept creeping on. Birthdays were celebrated, years passed by.

Along the way, our lives were blessed with the arrival of our knight in shining armour, Ian who made everything complete, safe, secure and happier than we could ever have imagined, and with four further beautiful babies to add to the brood. Our little tiny family of two swelled to become a family of seven. A fabulous, loud, proud, chaotic, slightly bonkers and absolutely perfect family.

Tick tock. Time continued to pass. My babies grew up under my watchful eye, surrounded by my constant love. Little boys grow into men. They get tall, they start to shave, they get a job, they spread their wings.

Now my son has his own life. A life he has created for himself. A life that makes me so proud of him. He is a wonderful daddy to my gorgeous grandson Ted. I'm not just mum anymore - I'm Nana Wendy now too. Joe gave me that gift.

We've grown older alongside each other for 27 years. Things have changed but the love I felt for that tiny baby I delivered all those years ago has not diminished one little bit. He's always my baby boy - but my baby boy is now a man. A 27 year old man. I'm a much older woman than I was 27 years ago, but my life has been made richer every single day since becoming a mother. 27 years of unconditional love has made me who I am today. Shaped me into someone I am proud to be. And it all started with the birth of my son. My son who is 27 today.

 Happy birthday son xxx

A Quarter of a Century Ago

25 years ago on the 8th October 1988, I gave birth to my first child.  My son. Joe.
He changed my life, giving me direction, focus, hope for the future and love.  He was my salvation from a dark point in my life.

Everyday he has made me proud.

Now as a dad with a family of his own, I see the adult that he has become. A wonderful man with a strong work ethic. An amazing dad who is making a good life for himself with his fiancee Jade and their little boy Ted. (Who has an obsession with gaming computers and shiny cars!)

He still makes us laugh and will always be a big kid at heart.  He still has that cheeky glint in his eye and the naughty streak that he had as a little boy.  I wouldn't change that for the world. He is a brilliant big brother to his sisters (...and a bad influence on his little brother!)

I love my boy.  With all my heart.

Happy birthday son. xxx

Flashback Friday - My Son Joe at 24

This week it was my son Joe's 24th birthday.  I still find it amazing that I have adult children, it seems like only yesterday that he was my little boy.  He was such a funny, energetic little lad, always up to mischief. Now he is a successful young man...even though he has not grown out of his mischief making!

He was quite a demanding little baby after his stressful birth.

But he grew into such a funny toddler who was always getting into funny situations and trying to make us all laugh.

Joe was a cheeky school boy.

He loved his football and his sports.

He's always been a good big brother.

We missed him so much when he moved out of the family home to live with his girlfriend at 21. 

Today Joe is at such an exciting point in his life.  He has a great job working in IT.  He is engaged to his lovely girlfriend and they are expecting their first baby in ten weeks time.  My baby is about to have his own baby.  My son is about to become a dad.

I hope that my son enjoys every second of being a dad, as I have enjoyed every second of being his mum.  At times there have been challenges.  I was a teenage mum on my own with my baby boy, but we muddled through and our little family went from strength to strength.  I've watched my son grow into an amazing young man.  He has given me so many reasons to be proud of him.  He is a wonderful big brother.  He is incredibly funny and always makes us all laugh.  He is loving and caring.  Sometimes he drives us a bit mad, but he wouldn't be Joe if he was 100% sensible all the time! 

This is going to be a big year for Joe.  I can't wait to support him through the next step of his life journey and see him as he becomes to a daddy to his own little boy.  I don't expect it'll all be plain sailing, but he knows that we will be here for him all the way!