Eight!!!

Eight! I can’t believe my big boy turns 8 today. Bit of Maths (not my strong point so hope I am right!) suggests that means he has been in my world for 1/5 of my life. How is it possible I lived without him, or my other beautiful boys, for so long?

When asked what he wanted for his birthday, all S requested was to have a party with his friends. We booked a party at an indoor play centre and invited half his class. He had the most sensational couple of hours playing and eating with his friends and it’s a testament to both how far his mobility has come as well as how great his friends are that I barely entered the actual play area itself. It’s a smaller play centre but still one with ladders,Tunnels, slides etc. He was able to navigate his way around with just the occasional push, pull, helping hand or simply words of encouragement from his friends. They fought over who sat next to him and who would play with him. He was utterly spoilt with gifts and I can absolutely confirm slept very well last night .

Today is his actual birthday. He requested pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast. After I prepared those I headed out for a 10km run. It’s been months since I’ve run that far. I have a run event coming up to train for, but I think the long run for me on this day in particular was more my little way of respecting all that Satria achieves so quietly and without fuss. It’s often important to me that I remind myself just what a challenge simple activities are to him. Also to remind myself to not get impatient or lose my temper with him when things don’t go quite right for him and instead get out there, do something challenging for me and challenge myself to not complain, to not give up and to just get on with it.

(Almost on cue, just as I finished that paragraph S knocked his brother’s bowl of lunch off the table with a stray flaying arm. Not his fault. His control of his limbs is compromised by his athetoid CP and associated movement that comes along with it. But still, in a busy household it can be easy at times to forget this and get cross regardless. Not proud to admit it)

After the run, I had a coffee in a cafe for my own quiet little reflection (and treat!) I returned home to find the house in chaos and S and his brothers in arts And crafts heaven – birthday requests had been for Art supplies so that’s what he got – in abundance! Curse you Mister Maker and your super neat doodle drawers! We have glitter, googly eyes, stickers, texts etc etc all over the lounge room floor.

But also lots of artwork that all boys are proud of and they’ve played together all day almost without incident and are now all asleep together tucked into the double bunk bed (yes I did start the post earlier at lunch time, sorry to confuse you!)

I think that’s what this birthday really celebrates for me. Not just that my beautiful amazing boy is turning 8 but that he has 2 wonderful brothers who adore him and who loved so much sharing these special days with him. It’s the first birthday we’ve had since we’ve become a family of 5 that all the boys have shared the same excitement, the same anticipation and the mutual appreciation that comes with such an occasion – its super special for all of them. Not just the birthday boy.

And I am such a proud, happy and lucky mum to get to share days like this with all my boys.

Happy Birthday to you S. You are awesome xx

(and now to find the broom and start somehow sorting out this crafty chaos!)

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