Originally induced at 9am on 1st April, he refused to meet me till 2nd April at 5am. Yup, that’s how long it took. He was my April Fools’ joke. My little prankster.
Almost 20 hours later, I was exhausted, pissed and running a fever. “It’s time to push, Mel” said the gynae. Alright, let’s get the party started! After 30 mins of uneventful I-don’t-even-know-where-to-push, I announced to the hubby and the gynae that I had enough of it. “I am tired, I am not doing this anymore. I want to sleep.”. Mr Gynae said, “There’s no turning back now, Mel.” and boy! was he right. There is no turning back on motherhood and the rest were blurry.
When the gynae plonked him on my chest, he was wailing his lungs out and his hands spread open wide. I remembered thinking to myself “Oh mine! What big hands he has.” *wink wink* And the rest were blurry.
Took him home and raised him up. First time cleaning someone’s poop (hubby held his tiny feet gingerly while I must have used like 12 wet wipes, over time I graduated to 2), first milk, first vaccination, first time introducing him to solid and he spatted it out *pfftt*, first word (pig), first step, first family vacation, first birthday, first separation anxiety, first school year, first school performance, first time introducing him to his younger brother, first knee-scrap, first fight (with me), first parent volunteer experience (and I went home with a major headache and swearing never to hang out with so many young peeps at the same time ever again), first time feeling that he is growing up too soon. And the rest were blurry.
As he celebrates his 10th birthday, I am reminded by Baby Blues’ “The days are long but the years are short.” comic series. Indeed, where did the years go? But still, these years bear testament to his growth and development. The shy little boy who was never 3 steps away from me now aspires to being a Prefect when he goes to Primary 5 next year, wants to get his Lifeguard certification (so that he can work part time earning up to $12/hr), to pursue Art as a career, discusses Marketing strategies with me for his school’s “My Dream Shop” project and gives me sound advice when I share my struggles with him.
There are days where it is still blurry as I struggle to catch up with his numerous tasks and activities but there is one thing which I am clear about; that’s there is no turning back (Mr Gynae snicker in the background) as I continue on this road of motherhood with a boy who is on his way to becoming a young man.
Thanks for the company, son. Happy Birthday.
