To my firstborn

 To my firstborn,

You were the one who made me a mother.
Before you, love was an idea. After you, it was a living, breathing thing I carried in my arms.

Every first belonged to you.
Every mistake belonged to me.
And somehow we grew up together anyway.

I learned patience because of you.
I learned how to say sorry to a tiny human.
I learned that love can be fierce and gentle at the same time.

You watched me figure it out in real time.
I didn’t always get it right, but I always loved you loudly, imperfectly, completely.

You stretched my heart open and never let it close again.
You changed the way I see the world.
You changed the way I see myself.

No matter how tall you grow.
No matter how far life takes you.
You will always be the moment my world began.

I’m so grateful it was you.