14th birthday...how'd that happen?

Son and Heir turns 14 today.

It just doesn’t seem possible that 14 years ago, a Monday, we made the drive to Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati for the delivery of our first child. Stubborn, he was reluctant to make his appearance; strong, he stood in the doctor’s lap upon his arrival; and loud, we could hear him squalling 200 yards away and through 5-6 closed hospital doors in the nursery. They had to bring him to our room because he was keeping all the other quiet little babies awake.

I can still remember loading Doc-wife and our new baby into our blue Eddie Bauer Ford Aerostar van to come home, wondering when security people were going to stop us from leaving because we had absolutely NO IDEA how to raise a child. We were still looking for flashing lights and sirens as we pulled out of the driveway, both concerned and relieved that we were allowed to go.

He was a near-8-pound hard, rubbery chunk then…he’s considerably bigger now, but still built like a linebacker. What he will be at adulthood is anyone’s guess, but we’re liking the indications so far. He thinks well, knows right from wrong, can recite dialogue from Monte Python’s The Holy Grail, and sometimes his socks match…it could be much worse.

He has asked to skip school today to shop for his present (we’re helping him buy a computer by supplementing the allowance money he’s saved) and we have acquiesced…he never misses school otherwise. He wants pizza for his birthday meal – a predictable choice.

He’s a young man now, and I can finally envision a time when he’s out on his own, living his life, perhaps getting married and deciding to start a family. There may come a time when, after witnessing the birth of his child, he’s waiting at the pickup doors of the hospital for his wife and new child and having no idea what to do next.

My advice: Enjoy the moment, treasure your family and relax…if we could get it right 14 years ago, it should be a snap for everyone else.