A Bittersweet Day

My oldest daughter is turning 20 today. She's no longer a teenager, and it's hard for me to believe that 20 years has passed so quickly. It seems only yesterday they were plopping her on my stomach, a writhing red and blue ball of 8 lb., 10 oz. screaming baby. And my whole life changed in an instant.

It's just as I tell/warn my daughters now, once you have a baby, your life is no longer your own. You will always take a backseat to the needs of that child. No more hopping in the car and taking off to who knows where without a second thought. No more staying up as late as you want and sleeping in. It is truly the only job I know of that is 24/7 and lasts for your entire lifetime.

But it's worth it. Although she put me through my paces, she's turned out to be a rather nice human being, someone I enjoy spending time and talking with. She's nothing like me, really. She's her own person, complete with her own opinions, feelings, likes, dislikes - which is much nicer, I think, than some clone of myself.

And so my baby is growing up, and I am feeling old, but proud. Happy Birthday baby.