Tales of a Square Peg

• 34 years ago, I definitely didn't plan on going to the grade school that I did, but because of "life happening" -- I met my best friend in kindergarten.  We share the same twisted sense of humor, and throughout the years, even the grief that goes along with living.  She's taught me that I shouldn't take myself too seriously; how to be a kinder, gentler person; and not to sweat motherhood and the selective impact that gravity's having on our bodies as we head toward 40.
• 20 years ago, I had planned that my mom would see my college graduation, marriage someday and children.  But life happened:  I lost my mom to cancer that same year.  But, as hard and painful as that experience was -- and is -- it gave me a renewed hope in my faith.  That I made it through those early years without her, and my life as it is now are a testament to the work my mom had done in teaching me how to "fly" without her.  And our relationship, though interrupted by "life happening" was the model for not leaving anything unsaid.  Mom knew how much I loved her, and I knew how much she loved me; so even now, I don't leave the "I love yous" and "Thank yous" till another day, because (as mom often said) tomorrow isn't promised to anyone.
• 8 years ago, I was tired and had no plans to go out to a birthday party, but after some teeth-pulling by a friend of mine, I did.  Life happened that night:  Jamie and I were introduced by a mutual friend.  Turns out that we both had been at some of the same functions previously, but because we were already into our plans during those times (e.g. dating other people), we had never formally met.  Thanks to that unplanned birthday party detour, I met the love of my life.  Through our marriage, I not only have a partner and best friend, but I've gained a mother-in-law who is truly like my own mom; a sister-in-law who's another forever friend, and most importantly...a chance to develop a new, different mother/daughter relationship with our own daughter.
• 6 years ago, I told my boss that I would be resigning to go into a teaching program that, after a year-and-a-half, would lead to a position with MPS.  Then life happened -- truly happened:  A baby?  This really, really wasn't in my plan.  But GG's birth helped me discover the love within myself that wasn't, at its core, about myself:

This love led the search for a school where GG can find the same kind of forever friend like I've had since kindergarten.

 

It's driven me to help GG fly on her own little by little -- because someday, she'll have to.

 

It helps me teach GG to appreciate each person in her life for every kindness -- no matter how small or how great.

 

And this love guides the way Jamie and I interact with each other, our extended family and our friends, so GG knows what healthy relationships look like.

So my birthday wish is this:  if life is happening right now and interrupting the plans you thought you made, I hope you realize that life is never random or hopeless.  And even if you can't see how your situation will ever work out for good, believe me: it can, it will and it does.

By the way -- I never resigned from that job; I'm still at there because "life happened" at that point in time; and it circuitously lead me here to Milwaukee Moms.