Another Special Birthday

I believe that the youngest child will always be the baby of the family no matter how old he/she gets. I feel this way with my youngest child in many ways. Although he is a very responsible adult, there is always a reminder of the young child he once was. He has a huge caring heart, a very pleasant personality, he is loveable and cuddly too! He shows off his gentle personality in many ways...the way he treats others, the way he shares his feelings, the way he cares for young children in the family and the way he offers help even if he was not asked for it. Today is his birthday ; he is turning 23 years old.


He is my “Kawabanga” boy! He grew up in the late 80’s when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were bigger than life... Like most kids his generation, he was a loyal fan; everything he wore and used had to have the turtle pictures all over it. Sheets, towels, t-shirts, back pack, lunch box, pens, and books, anything under the sun had the turtles pictures on it. Of course he collected all the action figures, the weapons, the vehicles and their living quarters. He is not giving up his collection or getting rid of it, he keeps it in a safe place for future use I assume!!!


Parents do whatever they can to provide physical and emotional needs for their children; I believe I tried my best to do so with all of my kids equally. Usually the third child does not get the privileges the first child or even the second one gets, not enough attention, not enough time, or as simple as taking a lot less pictures of the third child than the other older ones. Also the third child gest a lot of hand me downs in clothes and toys which could be on the negative side, but being the third child has its perks too such as a lot less discipline and punishment!



I think by the time the third child arrives, a parent becomes an expert in the field of parenting and more used to dealing with children. parents develop a set way to do things...a parent “grows up” in a way with having the third child and becomes in control...nothing is as exciting as it used to be with the first two children, or not as new...parents tend to develop a know how to all the tricks! But to any parent, all their children are special in a unique way.


I almost lost my third child before his third birthday...that was a very sad incident in our family’s life that I hate to recall. My son almost chocked to death eating a piece of hard candy. Till this day, I get nervous when I am around kids eating hard candy!!!

At a desperate moment, I lost hope for him to live. His face turned blue, with bulging eyes and helpless body....all I could do was cry hysterically in despair, my husband performed first aid techniques to save his life, it took a short while before he was revived back to life that felt like eternity! At a desperate moment, my husband just let him lay on the floor, watching him almost dying because he felt that my son's life was slipping away and he could not do anything to help. It all happened in few seconds, a lot of commotion was in the house, and everyone panicked. The paramedics arrived after my son was saved!

The hardest thing ever to happen to any parent is to lose a child to death. Parents are supposed to die before their children, not the other way around!

At moments of despair, we feel helpless and vulnerable, scary thoughts hunt us. I had my share of those for many days to come after that sad incident. I still have nightmares about that day.

Only by the grace of God he was saved. I am forever thankful that God spared his life.

Seeing my son today makes me feel blessed and happy. He decided to leave the states and move to Beirut to live at home, he is attending AUB. He will be graduating with an education degree for elementary level. I am sure he will make a great teacher. He adds so much happiness and joy to my life by just being around. His presence adds a lot of easiness to my life. He is so kind and fun. I love having him around...he keeps me on my toes as a parent too! Cooking for him is another pleasure I enjoy, because he appreciates a good meal, he thinks that my cooking is the best!! I cannot say enough about how blessed I am to have him around.

Happy birthday my big baby! I love you.