I turned 42 today.
Half of my life ago and on the evening before my birthday, I attempted to keep up with friends who were buying me too many shots for my 21st birthday. I promptly proceeded to vomit an entire box of raviolis into the bushes outside of the bar where we were celebrating.
Today, I go to work and have a series of planning meetings for the company. I go out to dinner with a friend and co-worker (and her husband, and her two small kids) who will soon be leaving the company and this city. I will miss her. Thank you Ro for making my birthday special.
And then I go home to an empty house, with the exception of a mailbox full of mail and a guinea-pig that we recently named (“Cocoa”). I threw in some laundry. I put on the lawn sprinkler. I watered my newly planted trees and berry bushes.
I did not hear from the kids today, nor was I expecting to. I will see them on Wednesday AM and will have them all day Wed, Thursday, and Friday until 6 PM.
What a difference 21 years makes.
Til tomorrow –
– Mama K
Mama In Motion™ 
Agree w/Jeanette, shame on co-parent for not setting up a bday phone call from the kids.
Happy Birthday! Birthdays to me are a time for new beginnings. Look how far you’ve come in a short time and the new life you’ve made for you and your kids. It may not be exactly what you had planned for your life but it is your reality now and you have shown incredible strength and courage in getting there. So celebrate with your kids when you see them and celebrate your new life together with some new traditions. (and shame on co-parent for not having the kids call you for your birthday-that says alot about him).
So sorry for this late reply! Thank you for the support!!! I sulk at times but I’m learing to make the best of this situation. I’m learning to revel in myself in my alone time. Gardening has taken up a lot of that time at first. I needed the alone time to be by myself. I’m finding now that I’m open to connecting with others. And people can sense this – react to it. A new world is opening up to me and hopefully my forties will be the best decade yet. Thanks so much for reaching out.