May 26, 2009 8:25 AM
My birthday - unbelievably 61!
For those of you wondering - as I did in my younger years when life was speeding up - "Will it ever slow down? - I have to say the answer is no. At least not yet.
Life is hurtling past and today I wake up to discover that I'm 61! So not fair!
I wrote this this morning for my Friday newspaper column:
Birthday presents? Who needs them when you've got 12 kids?May 26 was my birthday. And the birthday of Stevie Nicks. We both turned 61, and somehow that makes me feel just a little better.
What also makes me feel better is how much living got crammed into those 61 years. Like Stevie, I lived a wild and crazy life - a life with many detours and dead ends. That my calling would end up being motherhood - who knew?
When I married Tripp in 1983, I already had two daughters in tow - Samantha Sunshine and Jasmine Moondance. But being a mom had been just a sideline to me - Being Me had been the most important thing, whatever Being Me meant at any particular time.
My marriage to Tripp changed all that - as though God had given me a second chance at learning to live for others. Though we didn't start out to conquer the world one baby at a time, we ended up having 12 kids, including three we adopted after Maddy.
For a little girl from a hardscrabble background the past 26 years have been a time of grace and healing. For while none of us from broken homes can change the past, we can change the future by building strong families and raising men and women happy to put the needs of others before their own.
Still, today, 40 years of motherhood makes for a rather strange lifestyle. The fact is, I'm old enough to be the grandmother of most of my children. As Maddy put it: "Mom, you're 61 and I'm 16! Isn't that cool?"
Cool? I'm not so sure. I certainly don't feel cool at Back to School Nights. I feel old. But usually I'm too busy to dwell on how I feel. And I've discovered unexpected energy reserves just trying to keep up with my kids.
The truth is that though once in a while I long for a moment to breathe, to sit still, to enjoy a quiet moment - to look for all the world like those classic women captured on canvas just being on their own - I still thrive on the excitement of being part of so many lives.
How do I love being a megamom? Let me count the ways. . . .
Take May, for example:
4 First Holy Communions (Jonny, Jesse, Daniel, Justin)
2 College graduations (Ben and Zach)
1 Summer homecoming (Sophia)
3 Days in Virginia Beach for Challenger Little League Jamboree (J, J, D &J)
1 Rehearsal dinner for 60
1 Wedding (Ben, to his sweetheart of five years Anna)
4 College buddy houseguests for aforementioned BenAnna festivities
1 Second Place in Loudoun's Got Talent (Maddy)
1 Helena cast in Not Just Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream (Sophia)
1 Abe Lincoln at Round Hill's Living Wax Museum May 29(Justin)
1 New Motherhood Challenge - Zach's getting a motorcycleAt 61, I'm way beyond presents. Besides, I've got it all: Motherhood - the gift that keeps on giving.
So if you're looking for Words of Wisdom from This Old Lady on her birthday, here they are:
You know that baby that you're not sure you should have because it's hard enough making ends meet or you feel overwhelmed?
Have that baby. And have another one after that. Consider adoption.
Work hard. Love more. Live sacrificially and learn to be the best mom you can be. Never give up.
Ignore the nay-sayers and stick to those who believe in your ability to be a wonderful mom! 
Make God the heart of your home. Teach your children to depend on Him and learn to depend on Him more.
Teach others what you've learned, but avoid judgmentalism and pride. Always be willing to learn from those with more experience.
Be humble. Be gracious. Be grateful. Then it is safe to be confident.
Remember that no one will remember how organized your kitchen was or how well-folded your clothes. They will know you only indirectly by the part of you that is reflected in your children's character.
Motherhood is truly the most important work you will do in this lifetime. If you surrender, God will take you to places you never dreamed!
Posted in Inspiration, Mothering, My life | Permalink
Comments
Happy Birthday, Barbara! You are a blessing.
Posted by: Franchelle | May 26, 2009 10:35 AM
Happy birthday Barbara!
Your energy and zest for life is an inspiration to all. You make 61 look great!
Posted by: kelly | May 26, 2009 10:58 AM
Happy Birthday Barbara! You look as beautiful as ever and besides, it is on the inside that counts! Great advice, I needed to read that today. Julie
Posted by: Julie | May 26, 2009 11:19 AM
Happy Birthday! Thank you for this. You're such an inspiration.
Posted by: Lauren | May 26, 2009 11:35 AM
Happy birthday Barbara!!
Posted by: Jessica @ Raising Joey | May 26, 2009 11:35 AM
Beautiful thoughts, and what a beautiful life! Happy birthday Barbara. May God continue to bless you and your family for many more years.
Posted by: Anne | May 26, 2009 11:49 AM
A VERY happy and BLEST birthday to you, dear Barbara.
YOU are a gift to all of us, and on this day we pray in thanksgiving for God's guiding hand in your life, that has made you so able to share and guide so many through this sometimes very confusing world. You have had the courage and openness to share your journey, and it has given light and hope to so many.
I pray that the coming year is filled with Grace and Blessings, and a few quiet moments...
We Love You too, Barbara.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 26, 2009 12:13 PM
What a sweetheart - giving your readers a present on your birthday! I'm printing this out for the next "what am I doing?" kind of day. Thank you for (all!) the inspiration.
Have a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Shannon Miller | May 26, 2009 12:16 PM
Happy birthday, Barbara! May you be blessed with many more!
Posted by: Cathy | May 26, 2009 12:32 PM
Happy Birthday. Thank you for the insights in motherhood they encouraged me today. I'm only 44 with kids 21 - 2 but sometimes I get tired and think about that "Me time". I'm going to try to focus on the blessing of having the wonderful family God has given to me.
Posted by: Joy | May 26, 2009 12:38 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Congratulations on reaching 61 years! I'll be turning 49 in 6 days and our youngest just turned 7. I too sometimes feel old but our 5 kids ranging from 16 to 7 keep me feeling younger than most my age! You are a great role model for us woman whose families are the most important things we have in our lives! What I appreciate about you the most is that you are not afraid to speak your mind (and yes, we mother's do have one). Thank you for sharing your life to us and have a very special day!
Charlene
Posted by: Charlene | May 26, 2009 1:08 PM
And a very, very happy birthday to you!
Posted by: LadyLovas | May 26, 2009 1:14 PM
Happy Birthday, Barbara! :-)
I'm with you, on being the old mom in the school. :-)
Is that you on the tricycle?
[yes, it's me! before my dad left]
Posted by: Julana | May 26, 2009 1:26 PM
So, last night when I announced to Anneke that it was going to be your birthday tomorrow, she squeeled, "Yipee!! Am I invited?!" Wish we could be there in person. All God's most wonderful blessings to you today and always. Love, love and more love...
Posted by: Greta | May 26, 2009 3:16 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA! I hope someone gives you a really yummy cake, and you get lots of hugs kisses, and maybe even a dandelion from the yard!
Your post made my day so bright! Thanks for sharing your heart...btw... what a cute little girl on the trike!
Posted by: Lisa | May 26, 2009 4:26 PM
Happy Birthday to you!
You go girl!!!!
Enjoy your special day!
Posted by: A Mac and a Mug O' Joe | May 26, 2009 4:41 PM
Happy Birthday Barbara! May you have many more years of blessings as you continue to inspire many, many people.
love,
Ria at Bill and Ria
Posted by: Ria Haag | May 26, 2009 4:59 PM
That was a lovely post. I really enjoy reading your reflections, I find them so uplifting.
Happy, happy birthday!
Posted by: Clare | May 26, 2009 6:46 PM
Happy birthday to you, Barbara, and many more!
Posted by: evergreen | May 26, 2009 10:15 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Love the picture, the honesty, the retrospective, the joy....
I hope your children are proud to have you as their mother!
As always, thank you for sharing and keeping it real.
Posted by: von | May 26, 2009 11:44 PM
oh wow! sorry imissed this! Happy (belated) Birthday Barbara, and what a lovely encouraging post!
Kristy in Germany
Posted by: kristy in Germany | May 27, 2009 10:32 AM
