To Charlotte on her 37th Birthday

Oof.  How in the world did I get to the age where this could be a title for me?  37.  When I was five I thought my mom was 37.  I proceeded to think she was 37 for several years until she in fact finally did turn 37.  It seemed like an appropriate mom-age.  Moms are "old," but not too old.  Young enough to start their age with a 30 but finish with a number edging toward the next decade.

In true middle age mom form, I wasn't entirely sure how old I was turning.  My younger self would be shocked that I could somehow not know my exact age.  I didn't remember it was going to be my birthday until around 5 pm the night before.

In between working full time, coordinating the birthdays of my 3 children (including one actual birthday part with all her friends), readying myself to take my students to environmental science school, minor details like birthdays get forgotten.

I am leaving tomorrow for a 4 day trip to LA for an International Baccalaureate conference.  I've never been away from my kids for that long.  It's going to be a lot of work condensed into a few short days, but I know I will learn so much. The more I understand IB, the more I appreciate the direction it is taking our school.  Meanwhile, there's packing, kid logistics, meal plans, laundry, and sub plans to figure out, and general parenting things like snuggles, listening to my kids read to me, play the piano, and help them with their math.

So yes, somewhere in there yesterday I had my 37th birthday.  I woke to hugs and kisses from little bodies.  Dave made me coffee, Linus toasted me waffles and decorate a smiley face on it using whipped cream.  My phone vibrated regularly with Facebook notices of birthday wishes.  I didn't say too much at school about it. I'm one of those people who isn't sure how to react when being sung to.  Despite my nonchalance, I got many birthday wishes and hugs from students.  It was Unity Day so we all got to wear orange shirts.  I used the opportunity to get an extra wear out of my skeleton scarf.

After school my kids let me work so I could leave school empty-handed.  Dave brought me flowers (he also packed a cute note in my lunch).  I got to talk to my older sister (we are both too busy to talk anymore), and went out to dinner at Mama Stortini's.  The kids were extremely well behaved.  Linus pronounced it to be his new favorite restaurant, second only to the Cheesecake Factory.  High praise.

Dave put the kids to bed and my brother, Tim, came over with wine and brotherly love.   We stayed up late talking.

I went to bed tired, with a belly full of gluten and dairy, feeling loved.  My goal for tomorrow is to cash in on my Starbucks birthday reward.  Dave and I have plans to get away in a couple of weeks in honor of both our birthdays.  In the end, my birthday was sort of random break from a crazy couple of weeks.  Maybe that's how it should be.