I gave birth to four children by the time I was 23. That just seems absurd when I say it aloud (or type it aloud) (which I just did) because the 23 year olds I know today seem like babies. Mason, technically baby number 3, came along when I was 20. How pathetic is that? I couldn’t even legally drink alcohol and was raising kids and going to dance recitals and practicing soccer with my own children. As an added bonus, I was still wearing braces. Don’t even ask.
Today, Mason is 20 and his life hasn’t mirrored mine at all thus far. Considering how hard it was, I’m grateful for that. I lived out every parent’s wish of creating a better life for their children than they feel they had. Most of the parental advice I have given my own children is DON’T DO WHAT I DID. What has that wrought? A pretty incredible set of kids who all are living out their lives in a very different way than I experienced. Mallory wasn’t thrilled to be getting a baby brother. She came to the sonogram with me and cried and stomped out of the room when I learned he was a boy. Lighten up there, sassypants. He didn’t turn out so bad, now did he?
For the last seven months Mason has only visited home once and has been mastering the art of living on his own, paying bills, making his own meals, and cleaning his own house. I don’t want to sugar-coat this part: it blows, doesn’t it, Mason? But I’m still proud of what he’s learning about himself and how he’s handling being 2,000 miles away from home. He needed to take a break from relying on his parents and, in a relatively safe environment, do it himself. To him, this meant eating a lot of Ramen noodles, doing his laundry in a timely fashion, and wearing a fake mustache more often.
After 20 years (isn’t that an O. Henry story?), Mason has proved to be an incredibly loyal friend, a bit of a prankster, and a total Jesus Freak. He is a youth group junkie and doesn’t break the rules because JESUS IS ALWAYS WATCHING. Even when no one else got up for church, he did it faithfully on his own all through high school. We left our old church for oh-so-many-reasons and I never made a commitment to any of the churches I went to, but Mason took to one place and joined on his own when he came back to visit in September. Before he could drive himself he got rides from the youth pastor and Mason, being ever-forgiving, didn’t even get mad when I followed him out to the car one day to tell Josh thanks and then I added, “I appreciate you always picking him up. Do me a favor and don’t return him to me as a Republican, okay?”
He looks up to his oldest sister, Mallory, in a way I’m not sure anyone else deserves. (Not that you aren’t totally amazing, Mallory, but this one isn’t about you.) When Mason asks for advice, he really listens and takes it. He quotes the movie Elf all year long, has the absolute best and varied taste in music, and still can’t stand that his younger brother is taller than he is. There are too many things to say about Mason most of which sounds like he has no flaws. For instance, that kid never knows where his glasses are and he stays up way too late in the evenings.
But his imperfections go right out the window when I see how much he enjoys and is at peace when he’s appreciating nature.
He will eventually go back, but he is coming home for Christmas and taking an extended stay back home with us. I just learned this as he wanted it to be a surprise since he kept telling me, “I’m not going to see you for Christmas this year, mom.” Maybe my sobbing on the phone with him finally worked! Yes! I got this parenting thing down pat!
Mason turns 20 today and I didn’t miss the opportunity to tell him he was only half my age. I neglected to tell him all the stupid things I had done by his age.
He’s managing his own without making too many terrible choices.
If he wasn’t such a good boy I would assume he did this while drunk. Instead, we have to chalk it up to him being such a dork.
He has come to expect a birthday post, so if you made it this far would you wish him a happy birthday in the comments? Kids love that crap.
See you soon, Mason. I’m pretty sure it’s your turn to do the dishes.
I know I was late for your birthday last year and you’re two hours behind me so this still counts!
Happy birthday, son.
I think your whole family is awesome, but I have to admit that I get the biggest kick out of your photos and tales of Mason.
Happy birthday, Mason! (And congrats to you, momma.)
Happy Birthday, Mason!
Awwww. Happy Birthday, Mason! And happy momma-versary, Kelly!
I can’t believe he’s 20 already. Mental stuff. You have every right to be a proud Mama, he sounds like a well-adjusted, mature young guy. He has such a sweet face too! Happy birthday Mason!
Happy birthday mason! I made you a picture sideshow with music, but my computer deleted it…
Happy Birthday, Mason!
Happy birthday Mason! You sound like an awesome kid! I hope you have a spectacular birthday!
Oh, Happy Birthday Mason! I’ve never had the urge to be a parent. I love other peoples’ kids. But I am awe inspired by the people who parent and do it so well. Mason, you don’t need me to say it, but you come from good people. Enjoy all the time you have with them!
Happy Birthday, Mason! I know I say this every year, but you are two weeks (or so) older than my oldest kid, and I am startled every year when your birthday comes up. December 1991 was a good month.
So proud of you and your choices. Have a great day.
Happy Birthday Mason– You have the best mom. We have some young relatives in the Seattle area, well, they wouldn’t seem young to you, 30 somethings– oh wait, never mind, they’re pushing 40… anyway, run over to Fremont and buy a book at that independent bookstore down the street from the garden shop.
Happy Birthday, the pictures are hilarious!
Beautiful picture of him at peace with nature. Happy Birthday Mason – hope your next 20 years are filled with good things.
Awwwh (: happy birthday Mason!
Happy Birthday, Mason! Remember, your momma loves you best. (Don’t get big-headed over that, I say that to everyone.)
Aaron and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
Happy Birthday Mason!!!
Happy Birthday, Mason!! I hope you know what an incredible mother you have… She sure is crazy about you four!! I’m glad for you, Kelly, that your kids have turned out to be such great, responsible kids. That’s a talent, just like any other.(being able to raise great kids) Good for you.. Have a great Christmas season with him home!! Hugs.
Happy Birthday, Mason! Enjoy 20!
Happy birthday Mason! Hope its been great.
Happy Birthday, Mason!
Congratulations, to you, sugar, for raising such a good man! *sigh* my eldest turned 40 on nov.11 and the youngest, 33, oct.23! xoxoxox
Happy Birthday, Mason! You sound like an awesome kid. Be nice to your mother on your visit home, OK? (I’m sure you will.) And if she comes a little unhinged as you get ready to leave again, don’t worry, it’s only because she loves you so much. When you have kid of your own, you’ll understand.
I wish I had a chance to meet him (or any of your family, for that matter – way to keep me all to yourself) when I visited. Happy birthday, Mason! Your mom’s always right, except when she’s wrong, and then she’s totally and completely wrong.
Happy Happy Birthday Mason!!
Kelly? You have amazing kids. I’m still up for adoption. I will not do homework though. I will crack jokes all night though.
Discuss with the Cuban and get back at me. =-)
Whooooo – Happy Birthday Mason!
Happy Birthday, Mason. I understand we are kind of neighbours. As I read this post, I did a major and complete face-palm, realising we could have invited you for Thanksgiving dinner. This is your standing invite for a home-cooked meal when you are back out this way.
Happy birthday, Mason!
Happy birthday, Mason!
Happy Birthday, Mason! I would say your Momma did a pretty damn good job of raising you!
Happy Birthday Mason!!! I never know for sure if it’s us parents who raise our kids or us kids who raise our parents. Which ever way it works–you all did a great job
I have two girls and I’m still trying to figure out how one is now 10 and the other 7. It happened so fast!
I really enjoy your stories about your family.
Happy Birthday Mason!
Happy Birthday, Mason!
(and one hell of a good job raising those kids, Kelly!)
Happy Birthday Mason!
Happy birthday, Mason! Three things I like about you after reading this post:
1) your glasses.
2) your freckles.
3) that you love jesus because you want to, not because your parents make you.
And there is also your cutting edge name, but I liked that before. Hope your year is great (:
Happy Birthday Mason! I have one of those tippy chairs too. Great for snuggling up, hard to get out of gracefully.
Happy Birthday to both of you!
This part about him NOT being drunk made me really laugh because this weekend I had a major panic attack and the root cause was that my daughter was NOT at a party and instead was asleep by 10.
Well, Happy Birthday Mason!
Hope the next 20 years are just as good for you.
Happiest of birthdays to you, Mason!
Your mom’s obvious love and respect for you is so incredible– I was about one paragraph away from offering you my daughter’s hand in marriage…
Hold up. She’s 19, hot, a Jesus-loving liberal firebrand with a quick wit and a soft heart… (Also? I REALLY want redheaded grandchildren.)
This could work.
Happy Birthday, Mason.
happy belated birthday, mason. I’ve told your mom that I think she has some pretty terrific kids. you need to hear it, too. when I met you in st. Louis, I remember you listening to music on your iPod, but when I got up to leave, you took your earbuds out, stood up, shook my hand and said goodbye. that’s pretty powerful for a cynical ex-middle school teacher. you give me hope that not all kids are jerks. you rule.
Happy Birthday, Mason! I love that last shot. Did he stay asleep after falling? Perfect.
Happy belated birthday Mason. You sound like a son to really be proud of.
Oh, I just had the half-my-age realization about my son just the other day!
It’s been great reading about Mason in this blog–Mason, you’re such a good guy! Happy 20th!
As they say, better late than never. Happy Belated Birthday Mason. May God continue shining on and through you and always gives you the desires of your heart.
Your are blessed Kelly!! We love our children no matter if they are near or far. Truly UNCONDITIONAL!
Loretta
Happy Birthday Mason~and Happy Birthday, Kelly!
First let me say Happy Belated Birthday to Mason!
Now let me say that I loved reading this! I am a young mother to 5 girls and I can’t tell you how many looks I get when I say, “Yes, they really are all mine.” Today while I was out at the store with my youngest 4 a man asked me how old I was as his wife scolded him for asking a woman her age. I am not ashamed of my age nor am I ashamed of myself so I laughed and responded. This kind couple praised me for my well behaved children but I’d say the majority does more judging than praising. Your story here about Mason is proof that young is not the equivalent of failure. I’m sure they are just as proud of you as you are of them! Great job, Momma!