Making the Most of Milestones

It’s Friday, and time for another Cocktail Hour at the Henderson’s.  In exactly one week, and at just about this time, Chris and I will be tired, a bit stressed, a bit broke, and a bit more than ready to marry off our oldest daughter, Michaela, to a fantastic guy named Phil.  This date is an important milestone for them and certainly one of those milestones that many parents anticipate they will experience when our children are born.  There’s a whole list of them, ranging from the first time you hear ‘Mama’ to perhaps when they have their first child.  Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how much we take for granted that these will just happen.

We might even have conversations with friends where we may even define just what we want to happen, how we would do something differently than others, or even what a great burden or expense these things will be to us.  The entire time, we choose to forget that this stuff are not givens in any sense.  Children are not pre-programmed to do things the way the storybook says they have to.  Their story will be written in a unique way, personalized to them.  Our role, should we be fortunate enough to have one, will need to be shaped and morphed to fit into the theme of their lives.

So when these milestones do happen to come, often in the blink of an eye, we need to be grateful and find the place within the highlight section where a parent should always live.  For that shining moment, we are not the stars or even the directors, but merely the supporting cast.  Don't worry about the place you will be in the program because we can still find ways to call attention to our pride, and loudly proclaim our happiness.  If needed, even the cozies can point out what role we are playing, just in case, it might be overlooked.

So tonight, we toast to milestones, with grateful hearts for being able to partake in so many of them, thanks to our children.  CHEERS FRIENDS! 

(and of course, we are drinking Sam Adams, Octoberfest, because it's the best beer ever)

Post Script 2014: Oktoberfest is still the best beer ever....
Happy Anniversary Phil and Michaela, two years and a beautiful baby girl.  May the love you professed that magical day is even stronger as you look into each day you have together.

Michaela, Phil and Family celebrating 11/13/12