Happy Birthday Lex my Love

Lex's 1st Christmas, six weeks old

Well today I have officially been a Mum for five years, as we head to the zoo to celebrate our little man’s 5^th birthday. I cannot honestly say that these last five years have been easy. The switch from freedom-to-do-whatever-the-hell-I-want to Mother hasn’t been a seamless transition to say the least. Steve asked me the other day, after a particularly strenuous day with our lads, if I ever regret having our kids? No no no I say, then, well, maybe just a little bit. Think of the things we could’ve done if we never had them? But I wouldn’t be without them, I really wouldn’t – life has never been so rich and vital.

If you know me, or are a regular withoutthebollocks reader, you’ll know that Lex has been a particularly challenging child, with a lot of people offering opinions and advice along the way. The thing is - I know him, I know his heart and soul, and while it has not been a smooth ride into motherhood, my faith in that child remains undiminished. He has an incredible zest for life and a desire to experience everything this world has to offer him. His ambitions know no bounds. He excels at everything he puts his mind to. And he is a worker – my word when he makes a commitment to achieving something, he bloody gets there. An example of his work ethic is his speech. In recent months, with incredible focus and determination, he is getting there, and we are conversing – hooray!! Who’d have known that since the 12^th of November 2006 I’d only now, five years on, be enjoying the ability to communicate with my child?

One of the things I’ve learnt in the last five years is that absolutely no one could’ve forewarned me about how hard it is being a parent. No one could ever communicate the extreme challenges, nor could they tell me how truly exhausting it all is. Oh sure, people tried to tell me, but how can you ever really know if you aren’t in the thick of it? But for all of the tough times, the majority is amazingly beautiful, because I think you start to love in a way you never knew you were capable of, and boy do I love my mini-men.

Making birthday pancakes this morning with Dad

So Lex my love, you drive me absolutely bloody crazy a lot of the time, but I love you so much and I treasure you so dearly. My faith in you will remain unwavering as I do my best to guide you out into this big wide world, where I know you’re going to contribute something really special to our planet and mankind. Happy Birthday sweetheart.

Yours, without the bollocks

Andrea