Thursday
Jan222009
At Seventeen
Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 1:56PM | Mr Lady
The first time I met him, he was busily trying to get all up on my flower girl.
He came to visit me when he was 15, and that's when I began to appreciate the person he was becoming.
Today he turns 17, and my little sweet baby nephew is almost gone.
Some man is busily trying to take his place. This is my last year before he can fight in a war, before he can get a credit card, before he can drink in Mexico, before he goes off to college to NOT HAVE SEX WITH GIRLS, ED.
I never thought I could love another human being as much as those three I made, but I love this kid. Just as much as my own. That child who shares not one genetic link to me means more to me than any word could convey. Next year, I won't be able to lecture him on tattoos, I won't be the one he calls if he needs math help, I'll just be his silly ol' auntie that he tells his college friends stories about. The one who can't hold her booze and makes his mom cry when they try to.
This year, he's still ours, though. This year he's still a child, he's still our first born baby boy, he's still a GOD to my kids and he's still a pain in his mother's ass. I have 364 days to tell him I love him and pinch his not so little anymore cheeks and then I, we, us, the Mr Lady women, we have to set him free into the world. I'm not ready. We're not ready.
This shit just happens way too fast.
My scanner isn't working, shut up.
He lived with me when he was 8, and that's when we fell in love.
Really, I think pictures of pictures are obnoxious, too. Desperate times...
I lived with him when he was 14, and that's when I began to really learn about the person he was.
He came to visit me when he was 15, and that's when I began to appreciate the person he was becoming.
Today he turns 17, and my little sweet baby nephew is almost gone.
Some man is busily trying to take his place. This is my last year before he can fight in a war, before he can get a credit card, before he can drink in Mexico, before he goes off to college to NOT HAVE SEX WITH GIRLS, ED.
I never thought I could love another human being as much as those three I made, but I love this kid. Just as much as my own. That child who shares not one genetic link to me means more to me than any word could convey. Next year, I won't be able to lecture him on tattoos, I won't be the one he calls if he needs math help, I'll just be his silly ol' auntie that he tells his college friends stories about. The one who can't hold her booze and makes his mom cry when they try to.
This year, he's still ours, though. This year he's still a child, he's still our first born baby boy, he's still a GOD to my kids and he's still a pain in his mother's ass. I have 364 days to tell him I love him and pinch his not so little anymore cheeks and then I, we, us, the Mr Lady women, we have to set him free into the world. I'm not ready. We're not ready.
This shit just happens way too fast.
Reader Comments (61)
Awwww... and he's gorgeous, too. And I mean that in a totally non-creepy, non-perverted way.
Diane wrote..http://dianesaddledramblings.blogspot.com/2009/01/writers-workshop-troll-guy.html" rel="nofollow">Writer's Workshop: Troll Guy
Ugh! This just kills me because our family's"first born baby boy" is a 19-year-old total deadbeat loser who steals from his own family and yet I still love him with every fiber of my being. So much that I have to stay away from him, in real life and on Facebook, for fear that he'll try to start trying to manipulate me. And I would fall for it. Hook line and sinker. He had my heart from the first day I met him and I find it very, very sad that I have to keep it safe from him. Sigh...
Your boy, though, sounds like a good kid and good kids usually stay that way, even when they turn 18 and go off to college to not have sex with girls.
Jill wrote..http://charmingdelightful.blogspot.com/2009/01/wtf-wednesday-special-help-mother-out.html" rel="nofollow">WTF? Wednesday - Special "Help a Mother Out" Edition
What a handsome boy and beautiful tribute on his birthday. I so get the GOD reference to your kids.... I heart people like that.
OHmommy wrote..http://www.classychaos.com/2009/01/striving-to-get-more-people-to-stand-up.html" rel="nofollow">Striving to get more people to stand up on their counter tops. One person at a time.
he's so handsome!! and so are you mr. lady for bein' so big hearted and nice and fuzzy and... snarky. i love it.
Lo wrote..http://slaphappymusings.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-i-have-to-say-is.html" rel="nofollow">all i have to say is,
Keep nephew Ed far, far from desperate housewives. I hear those cougars are on the prowl.
Not that I have any idea what that means.
TRACI wrote..http://www.smartassmom.com/2009/01/dear-aunt-ann.html" rel="nofollow">Dear Aunt Ann,
I love this. My nephew (and Godson) and I are very close (he's almost 7) and as much as I want him to stay 7 forever, I cannot wait to see the man he's going to grow up to be.
Kristabella wrote..http://fullofsnark.com/2009/01/21/just-say-no-to-kool-aid/" rel="nofollow">Just Say No. To Kool-Aid.
I have my first niece/nephew on the way, and would be delighted to have a relationship even half, half of what you have with yours.
But be prepared for the late teen years, I was at my optimum level of repulsion.
SingleParentDad wrote..http://singleparentdad.blogspot.com/2009/01/tis-nice-round-here.html" rel="nofollow">Tis Nice Round Here
absolutely LOVE that last photo!
Congrats on being a finalist for the 2009 Bloggies :)
That made me sad!!! At least you have 364 more days!
J wrote..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ImATroubleMaker/~3/518888272/achoooooooooooo.html" rel="nofollow">Achoooooooooooo
I so feel your pain. In just over seven months, my baby, my first born will no longer be a teenager. My daughter will turn 20. I am really not ready for that.
Your nephew is a lucky young man to have you as his auntie. (That track photo is awesome!)
Tara R. wrote..http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/thursdays-with-memes/" rel="nofollow">Thursdays with memes
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but that kid right there is going to have to beat the college girls off with a stick. Might be already. Maybe its not too late to talk him out of football and get him into debate or theater :).
Matt wrote..http://redsparks.com/playpen/2009/01/19/dear-nap-please-stay-im-begging-you/" rel="nofollow">Dear Nap. Please Stay, I’m Begging You!
You're very brave announcing to the BlogWorld that your very cute nephew will be available in a year. Do you realize how many cougars are on the prowl?
Now, tell us where he's going to college.
Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] wrote..http://awholelotofnothing.net/delicious-cake/" rel="nofollow">Delicious Cake
That is so touching...it's wonderful to see someone so young be such a good person. You and he and all are truly blessed...Now can I borrow him to whip my own "first born" into shape!!
Beautiful. I'm glad you have each other. My girl will be 17 soon and it's breaking my heart. Next year comes all too fast. Happy Birthday to him.
Mom24@4evermom wrote..http://4evermom.blogspot.com/2009/01/playdate-rants.html" rel="nofollow">Playdate Rants...
Handsome
boyman there! I know they don't have to be blood related to love them! I have a nephew like that, he will be 17 this year. He is my husband's brothers son, he was born one month to the day I married his Uncle so I can keep up with how long I have been married that way or vice versa. Convenient no?Special K wrote..http://specialk513.blogspot.com/2009/01/wtf-is-kizer.html" rel="nofollow">WTF is Kizer?
Yup, they grow up quickly! I'm having the same sort of issues in my house: we have a 17th b-day coming up in June. Ugh.
The photos were great, but the one of him on the track? Magazine-quality. Hella-good.
Happy birthday to him!
Melisa wrote..http://thesuburbanscrawl.blogspot.com/2009/01/comeback-after-only-two-months-shirley.html" rel="nofollow">A Comeback After Only Two Months? Shirley, You Must Be Kidding!
wow. amazing photos! (*whines a little*, i want to have a good camera to take crazy good photos like that!) he's a good looking kid. it's great to hear he's turning into such a good person. :)
zeghsy wrote..http://zeghsy.blogspot.com/2009/01/president.html" rel="nofollow">the president
Wow. He is a HUNK - er - I mean, a fine upstanding speciman of the next generation. Yeah. That's what I meant!
He's going to have his pick of girls to NOT have sex with, judging not just by the b&w shot, but by the tenderness some of those others...
He looks like a wonderful guy, I wish him all the best in college.
mamacrow wrote..http://mamacrow.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-hate-you-so-much-right-now-aaaahhh.html" rel="nofollow">I HATE you so much right now, AAAAHHH!!!
What a good lookin' kid. Lady killer, that one?
Headless Mom wrote..http://headlessfamily5.blogspot.com/2009/01/200.html" rel="nofollow">200
What a great post! I have an aunt that I go to all the time. I bet he still does.....take care!
super mama wrote..http://naturelovinsupermama.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-love-my-2-year-old.html" rel="nofollow">"I love my 2 year old".....
I am the mother of the God to all of the nieces and nephews on both sides. He will be 17 in July and there is just something about that birthday. It really is the last year of childhood even if they are far from being children.
And Matt, he is on the debate team and still has to beat the girls off. Smart guys are hot, you know.
I totally get this post. I have a first cousin (feels more like a nephew) like this. He has a girlfriend, facial hair, and a manly job. It's hard not to think about him as the pudgy boy with giant dimples who needs his diaper changed. :(
Erika wrote..http://begayaboutit.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/hope-over-fear-the-walk-of-president-barack-obama/" rel="nofollow">Hope over fear: The walk of President Barack Obama.
Handsome nephew. Great tribute to him and his parents, he should be blushing somewhere.
One Mom's Opinion wrote..http://onemomsopinion.blogspot.com/2009/01/simply-historic.html" rel="nofollow">Simply Historic
Oh. You all are in trouble with that one there.
Watch out seventeen year old girls!
That was a beautiful post.
Michelle wrote..http://michellesamom.blogspot.com/2009/01/yes-that-smell-is-coming-from-her.html" rel="nofollow">Yes, That Smell is Coming From Her
Oh....the joys of being an Aunt :)
Happy 17th to him. Beautiful post...
Ashley wrote..http://www.bosssanders.com/2009/01/22/someone-take-the-spatula-away-from-me/" rel="nofollow">Someone take the spatula away from me…
My firstborn Nephew married last summer. He asked me to be his best man, er person. That's the best compliment any aunt ever got. Nephews are good.
You are a way cool aunt and that rules.
katie ~ motherbumper wrote..http://www.motherbumper.com/2009/01/well-its-about-freakin-time.html" rel="nofollow">Well it's about freakin' time...
Your love just pours off the page. What a lucky guy he is to be cared for like that!
daysgoby wrote..http://jessalogic.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-should-probably-stick-with-frozen.html" rel="nofollow">i should probably stick with the frozen yogurt
that picture with your daughter is adorable. and that baby picture is too cute.
i know what you mean. i too love my nephew. first born grandchild. i can feel your sadness in this post mr. lady. make the best of the next 360 something days...
Oh dear. I don't think I could handle it. I'd spend every day crying about what has happened, what is happening, and what is to come.
That's it! I'll continue to live in my little cocoon sans enfants. I am far too emotional for that motherhood stuff.
;)
Alison wrote..http://followthatcab.blogspot.com/2009/01/end-of-racism.html" rel="nofollow">The End of Racism?
There is NO WAY he is the kid in that last picture... I still remember the first one. =/ Man is he handsome or what. Good luck with your college prediction. It's over for the girls where ever he is going. =)
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Ree wrote..http://hotfessional.com/2009/01/22/oh-mah-holy-hell-yall/" rel="nofollow">Oh Mah Holy Hell, Y’all
Well put. I got choked up and my nephew's only seven.
Shit woman. Do you have to REMIND Ree and I what we are facing with our own children?
Sheesh.
(awesome post, but you knew that)
Who cares that your scanner wasn't working - that was typically awesome and yeah, what a handsome young man that kid is. Sounds like his filled with promise - I love that.
Happy 17th...
Could I proofread? It's supposed to say ...sounds like his life is filled with promise....
oops..forgive me - I just put three kids to bed on my own.
I understand. I am totally IN LOVE with my nephew. Totally. He could blink and I would move cars, buildings, the universe for him. With my tiny chicken wings.
Props to your nephew. He sounds like a very fine young man, the kind that makes you proud. I wish him well. And heck, yeah, he does do good job of making the world a prettier place. :)
Beautiful, I love how you tell the people who mean most to you, how you feel about them. It is inspiring.
How sweet! He's a gorgeous boy and sounds like a fabulous person!
I had a very very very hard time yesterday!!!! Went to see him after work UGH!!! I cannot believe that my baby is 17!!! Although I can't complain cause he will still hold my hand and cuddle with me when I come over and see him............. I think you should just put your kids growing up on hold cause I dont think I can do this 3 more times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!! Beautiful Tribute to our fab nephew! you are great!
all three of my nephews are officially taller than me. it makes it hard to rough up their hair.
He's kinda cute ;)
And dude, he's lucky to have such a freakishly awesome aunt as you.
Dude, he could drink in Mexico the day he was born.
Looks and sounds like a cool kid. I have a niece, also not related by blood, about whom I feel the same way you do about your nephew. She'd be living here if I had my way. She'll be 17 in a week, and I can hardly believe it.
This is my first time here at your blog. Came here via Redneck Mommy. Y'all are too, too funny.
He could have been drinking over here for the last YEAR.
Or in Ireland from when he could count out the change.
He is going to love telling his friends about his crazy old auntie who can't hold her booze.
Oh man. The 17-year old girl in me is....well, you know.
I have one of those too only he'll be 23 (!*@!) in May. How the hell did THAT happen??
Anyway, beautiful post. And awesome pictures. Damn.