I have very mixed feelings about this birthday. First off, I'm old enough to have an 18 year old. I don't approve. I'm thinking about telling people she is really 12 and just suffers from a rare glandular disease.
Also, unlike most 18 year old grown up children, she is not ready to leave the nest yet. I have a love/hate relationship with this fact. I was ready. There were times when I was counting down the months. I kid you not. But. She has decided to stick close to home for her first year of college and apparently she loves us so much she can scarcely stand the thought of leaving us.
I'm glad she is so fond of us. I can think of times over the last 4 years when that was not always the case. I hope she will come to her senses and leave the nest some time before her 30th birthday. Or 20th. I had an epiphany the other day as I brought her homemade cinnamon rolls in bed. It occurred to me that I should maybe not make her life so comfortable? I'm going to start working on that.
For today we celebrated our girl with her favorite Birthday dinner: Italian meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gorgonzola bacon compound butter, southern style green beans, cheddar buttermilk biscuits and S'more pie. Yum.
Happy birthday, Maddie! I have to say, I moved out when I was 19 and if I could go back I would stay longer--fewer bills to pay. But I bet she'll be gone before too many more years pass.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is beautiful! Yep, she definitely has it too good at home.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all that dinner....yum-m-m! My daughter was the same way. She is 27, married and lives 6 hours away and still calls to say goodnight. I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe taking her breakfast in bed is making it a little cushy:) I know you are enjoying her! Happy 18!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Jen, you just can't throw around words like gorgonzola bacon butter and cheddar buttermilk without the recipe! Come on ;)
ReplyDeletePlease tell Maddie I wish her a very happy birthday!! That meal sounds amazing ... I second the request for recipes :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your sweet Maddie. What a wonderful and special relationship you share!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a wonderful and super-yummy day!
Oh, yum! I wouldn't leave home either! LOL
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, that day will come. And you will have days you want her to move home. But our children need to fly out of the nest...it is an important step in their development into a mature human being. I keep telling myself this....but you still miss them!
Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Lee
You had me at "gorgonzola bacon compound butter".....ah, recipe please!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your sweet daughter....I often worry about making life too easy for my two as well.....but wouldn't change a thing, and I am certain neither would you.
xo~Jill
Wow! with all that delicious food your serving up I'd be sticking around too! Heck, enjoy her home while you can. I think it's great, she wants to be there.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Maddie!
ReplyDeleteReally, we must have the recipes, please!
My oldest son just moved out at 22. And I wasn't sure he'd go even then! LOL The youngest wanted out at 13...waited until he was 18! Maverick!
Stay cool!
Courtney
Happy 18th! I'm glad you have such a close relationship. I remember having a hard time leaving home when I was 18. I was very homesick my first year at college.
ReplyDeleteThose window treatments are from Target, Jen. They're white shades that roll up and are tied. I think they have them in white and a sort of tan color.
xo
Claudia
Lindsey turns 19 tomorrow....I am so excited. It is so fun to see the become adults. Happy Birthday Maddie!
ReplyDeleteXO~Hope
Boy those rolls look yummy did not realize you had that talent as well.
ReplyDeleteMaddie is lovely hope her bday was swell. It is hard to watch our kids move into adulthood we are proud of them and want them to be successful and yet that means they eventually leave home. Life and its complexities.
Yes! Yes! Recipes for everything. PLEASE!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Jen. 18. That's a big one, my dear. Please tell your beautiful girl that Mama T sends her some Happy Birthday wishes.
ReplyDeleteAs for the birthday meal....I will dream of that compound butter tonight, for sure. You are the most amazing cook I know!
Happy Birthday to your girl! My oldest turns 18 this February. I've been saying for years-I'll only be 39 when he's 18. Well its finally here. And that's my son's b-day meal too! Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn & green beans. No bacon tho! I'm really gonna miss him when he's gone. He's turning out to be a really cool person!
ReplyDeleteGreat post....my daughter turns 18 in December and Maddie seems to have an identical life to hers...dinner sounded amazing
ReplyDeleteEnjoy every minute! The good and the bad - they grow up very fast. My DD turns 48 next month and her brother turns 50 tomorrow. We almost moved to your town many years ago but ended up in Indy. You are a good mother. Mothers and DD's have there up/downs but its such a special relationship.
ReplyDeleteLove what you have done to your home.
Hugs,
Connie
Jen, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Happy 18th Birthday to Maddie! Don't worry, the Senior year of H.S. is the hardest - 17 year olds know everything! They level off again shortly after and become friends - a truly enjoyable phase! You'll be begging her to stay when she's ready to move out! LOL
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Where is she going to college that's close? By the way, you are NOT old!
ReplyDeleteBe flattered that your daughter loves home enough to want to stay! Happy Birthday to her, she is beautiful. But I do know what you mean about making things too comfortable! Have a great week-end, we are having horrible heat here too.
ReplyDeleteOMGosh- I just about drooled in my keyboard reading about your meal! And..we had to finally invite our 19 year old to leave...It's okay...he still visits! xo Diana
ReplyDeletehi jen,
ReplyDeleteit's always so good to read your reflections because they always ring true with my own thoughts.
dinner looks lovely but for me, hold the cheese, please! :)
xo
elyse
Holy Smokes! That looks amazing! & as a Momma...it always makes me smile to see a birthday girl :)
ReplyDeletehappy belated birthday to maddie! both mine are adults now. one lives in NYC and the other in Key West while we are in Mid TN. always be careful what you wish for. since they left i've lost my umphh. the meal looks lovely. you are truly gifted.
ReplyDeleteI finally made this, and just as I suspected it is fabulous!! I hope you still get this comment at this late date. I appreciate the search bar, I never would have found it again otherwise. Always enjoy your blog!
ReplyDelete