Too often these last few weeks, my thoughts have meandered away from the task at hand and flitted towards wondering  how long it will take the authorities to find my errant daughter. Last Friday though, my first thought as I woke was of my son; my eldest child.  On that day 28 years ago, I delivered a red-haired baby boy, healthily roaring his displeasure at being so rudely removed from his cozy, warm habitat.

My husband and I seem to combine DNA to form kids of fierce independence. From infancy, my son knew exactly what he wanted and he wanted it “now”.  By the time he was three, he tested the boundaries so many times per day that his “time out” spot became very familiar to him. His thought… “Well the boundaries were there 5 minutes ago but maybe they have moved now.”  I used to joke that I believed it my duty to teach him that the universe didn’t actually revolve around him.

As a “woefully naive about parenting” young mother, I know I erred as many new parents do in the quest to make him the “smartest, cutest and of course the most talented” child that ever walked the face of the earth. Fortunately he survived my efforts into making him perfect and as I had more kids I relaxed my type A parenting.

Strong-willed preschool years turned into determination to control his own decisions in high school. We definitely butted heads during that time but I understood he was transitioning away from parental strings. Or maybe I only understand that now.

Early college years were rocky as he liked socializing more than studying and then eventually dropped out for a few years. In the hiatus between stopping and starting college again, he found his focus and when he went back to college his “so-so” grades turned into close to straight A’s.  His single-minded goal for years now has been his dream of going to an academy and becoming a police officer.  He graduated this past December with a Bachelors degree in law enforcement and we will be proud parents this May when we watch him walk across the stage during the graduation ceremony.

He has become a wonderful young man who loves God and family. He is honest, giving, and thoughtful; when he pops home unexpectedly and gives me a big hug with his 6’7″ frame, I am engulfed in his affection.

To my firstborn…as I am protecting your privacy along with the privacy of your siblings, you will be unaware that I have written about you.  Still, I hope that you know how proud I am of you, your focus in life and your character.  I love you and my wish for you is that all your dreams come true.  Happy Birthday.