I was widowed young--twenty six. I had two children: a son a month shy of four and a daughter of seventeen months.Unfortunately, my birthday that year fell on the two-month anniversary of our loss. For a number of reasons, neither my family nor my late husband's made contact with me that day--the cards came late.
It was a Saturday, and I felt sorry for myself early on, though later in the day I finally broke down and baked myself a birthday cake.
Well, my little boy (now all grown up and a father himself--and an artist--you'll need to scroll down) wondered what the cake was for. I explained it was my birthday.
He understood birthday cakes because he'd just celebrated his own special day the month before. The little guy looked around, wanting to know where my presents were. I asked him who was going to give me a present. He gave me a sheepish shrug. I told him not to worry about it, and the three of us had our own little cake party.
I didn't give it any further thought.
Until Christmas approached. My little guy told me he needed someone to take him Christmas shopping. Clueless, I asked him why. He said that since I hadn't gotten anything for my birthday he wanted to make sure I got something for Christmas.
*sniff*
I love little boys.
What about you? Do you have any special memories of a child in your life?
What a tear jerker , it must have been awful to be widowed so young, at least my three children were adults when their dad passed away.
ReplyDeleteI well remember one of my birthdays my youngest son had some pocket money and his elder brother took him to the shops which was not far away, The youngest came back thrust a bag in my hand said Happy Birthday Mum , I opened the bag and there in all it's glory was an pan scourer.
Look forward to your next post.
Yvonne.
We have four boys in our home right now, the oldest is seven. One of them is often so excited when you're opening a gift from him that ge cries out, "Its ______" before you even open it. usually his reaction is worth as much as the gift.
ReplyDeleteOkay - totally weeping.
ReplyDeleteMy son cleaned the house top to bottom last summer - I'd actually forgotten my birthday was the next day and he reminded me. "I wanted you to have a clean house for your birthday." How many seventeen year olds do that? Wowza!
That is so sad. Even knowing that families are forever, it's still a trial to experience a prolonged separation like that.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things we did in our home growing up(because we were really poor) was make birthday cards out of construction paper, glue, and markers.
The top drawer of my dad's dresser is stuffed full of these absolutely tacky things because they were gifts to him from his children.
So sweet. My son is three and I can't imagine living through that. You're amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to watch the way they think and grow at this age. The way the start to connect concepts and events. I call my son The Engineer in Training. He's constantly crawling in the fireplace or pulling the front panels off the piano so he can see how they work.
Thanks for sharing your very hard time with us. Glad your son was a sweetie through it.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing it to me again...among all the fluff and nonsense you shine through.
ReplyDeleteYou are still my hero.
Hello! Stopping by for the A to Z Challenge. What a sweetheart your son is. Brought a tear to my eyes. Thanks for sharing such a special memory.
ReplyDeleteSusanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
That is wonderful. Sounds like you raised a good boy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us.
Heather
Wonderful how kids can raise our spirits.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great, inspirational story.
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, I'm loving this challenge because of the amazing things I'm finding out about the writer's I love. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking and inspirational all at the same time :) Thank heaven for beautiful kids!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it with us. I've got two boys myself and I love them so so much! I hope they want to take care of me the way your kids obviously take care of you. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Donna...and thank you for becoming a new follower of my blog! Being a single mom (for different reasons...sorry for your loss) I can certainly relate to your post. I'm also delighted to know that you are a black belt in Karate...I hold a 4th degree black belt in TaeKwonDo and am the Center Manager/Program Director of our school.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with this challenge and I can't wait to see what you write about next...;0)
Donna Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Oh my gosh...that would have been so hard. 26! You are a strong woman. What a blessing your boy is...and grew up to be so talented!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and following. I'm delighted to return the favor.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Our children may never understand how such moments are all the gifts we need. Thanks for sharing.
Today is my oldest son's birthday. He's seven. *sigh* Where did the time go?
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest present story ever. Your son is a doll.
Ahh, what a sweet story! You're so lucky to have your boy! My fondest memory is when my oldest one at age of three told me he wants to be a doctor so he can make medicine for all the children in the world who don't have medicine. That was his understanding of what a doctor does.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad, beautiful, uplifting post, all in one. Thank you for sharing, Donna.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet little boy! I hope your birthdays have all been better since that time.
ReplyDeleteOH, that is so sweet. What a treasure for your parental memory collection. ;-)
ReplyDeletePopping in as an A to Z Blogging Challenge participant. Please feel free to visit and comment on any of my blogs as well, leaving a link to your own post, so my readers can find you too!
All on Blogspot.com and all in the A to Z Challenge
Heart of a Ready Writer – Bible &Devotional
Meme Express – Daily Blog Prompts (A to Z)
Nickers and Ink – featuring favorite classic poems from A to Z
Practically at Home – Wait till you see what fellow writers are cited – with article links! Maybe you!
Simply Snickers – Not posting daily in the A to Z Challenge, but inviting you to leave comments with you A to Z/NaPoWriMo poetry links!
The Mane Point – profiling special horses from A to Z (just a few letter spots left!) –
Working in Words – Writing How-to’s
You can click my name/icon for links to all these blogs!
Happy A-to-Z-ing!
Linda Ann
Your story gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Thank you for sharing this experience. You probably never doubted your son had an artistic soul!
ReplyDeletehttp://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com Theme: A World of Crime
How sweet that your son helped you through a difficult time. Sometimes, no matter what age, they just know, don't they?
ReplyDeleteMy students cause me to have special memories about them (though they are not little). Mostly, they make me laugh!
ReplyDeleteI've read several 'boys' posts, but this one showed boys in a different light. Very touching your son's love for you. It must have been an excruciating time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my childhood posts.
Denise
Such a sweet story! I'm so glad you broke down and made a cake. I would have wallowed in martyred misery all day.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. That was so sweet. Thank you for sharing, Donna. :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you had been widowed at all, let alone so young; that must have been so hard for you. That is so super special that your son did that for you for Christmas. Children are wonderful. ^_^
ReplyDelete