My first birthday as a mum

 Today is my birthday. More importantly, it's my first birthday as a mum.
Of course my lovely son congratulated me by getting sick. After two hours waiting at the doctors, we found out he has an ear infection. So it's clingy, irritated baby with a fever for my birthday.

 Even so, I can hardly complain. It's just an ear infection that can easily be fixed with the help of modern medicine, which I have access to. Although I might feel groggy from lack of sleep, it will only last a week, at the most. There are other parents out there who are dealing with chronically ill children. I can't even imagine how heart-breaking and tiring that would be like.

 If you think about it, it's quite fitting that Hazzy is sick on this day. Becoming a mum means that you no longer live for just yourself. You have this little being that is totally dependent on you and follows you around everywhere you go. So why should your birthday be any exception? Your daily routine practically revolves around this little person, anyway. Does this make me bitter? Hardly. My life is so much more fuller living for others. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, washing is much more meaningful when you are doing it for others rather than just for yourself. Occasionally you do get to do things for yourself, like the other day my hubby treated me to a facial and massage. But this also is more satisfying because it is a treat from my hubby rather than me treating myself. Looking back at my single years, I was free to spend my time and money any way I wanted, and yet it was never as fulfilling as seeing my family well fed and happy.

 So today, I will happily celebrate my first birthday as a very tired mum, with dark circles and an aching back.