family

Happy Birthday Contract Son!

by Self Sagacity at 4:15 PM
Some 14 years ago, while sitting in my kitchen I day dreamed about gardening. I had an incredible urge to touch and feel my plants on my very last days of pregnancy. Unlike other days when I resisted, I could no longer hold my urge. So there I was, very engaged in my planting when my water broke. I experienced the most difficult childbirth known to me, and always wondered if it had anything to do with the baby's personality.


Before M's teen years, he and I had contracts for everything, brushing teeth, changing clothes, and even eating! Crazy huh? It’s true, we lived this way for many years.

Today is his Birthday! I am so proud we made it to his fourteenth Birthday with good health and a great relationship. He is the son who melts my heart with surprised tender moments. He is passionate, very intuitive, very strong will, and very smart.

One day, he came up to me and started reading out loud one of my blog posts. I thought for sure he was going to make a joke, or laugh at it, but he smiled and said "I like it mom." There isn't a word to described the joy that I had because it was so amazing. It was as if watching a fruit tree bare fruit after so many years of not.

We are still making contracts though it’s rare. The only one we currently have is for him to pull-up his grades in return for his XBOX, and I can’t wait for the day he show me his victory.

My son, only a few of us are blessed with this challenge.

Whether you remember or not, the Tangerine tree below is with us because you loved it and wanted me to plant it for you some six years ago. It has only begun to reward us with fruits the last two years, but we have already benefited in many ways.

Happy Birthday Contract Son!



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35 Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 17, 2010 at 4:56 PM

    I raised four of my own. Aren't they marvelous? This is an inspiring post. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:56 PM

      four, why does that sounds so many - then three? :-)

      Delete
  2. wennMarch 17, 2010 at 5:58 PM

    happy birthday to yr son. btw, the orange looks so tempting!

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:57 PM

      thank you, I will tell MattLove, we still have the tangerines on our tree, would love to give you some. :-)

      Delete
  3. Diane AZMarch 17, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    Heartwarming post; great pictures! Happy Birthday to your son!

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:57 PM

      he is one of my blog readers now, so I have to make it interesting is all. Just joking.

      Delete
  4. GeorgeMarch 17, 2010 at 6:42 PM

    What a wonderful tribute to your son. I hope he had a great birthday. I also hope he gets that XBox!

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:57 PM

      thanks for the visit, he wants the XBOX too...so let's see if he is really serious.

      Delete
  5. Regina March 17, 2010 at 7:18 PM

    Happy Birthday to your son.
    Great photos!

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    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:58 PM

      thank you Regina. the tangerines turned out brilliant.

      Delete
  6. Live Love LifeMarch 17, 2010 at 10:01 PM

    Great post! Happy birthday to your son! Can I have some of those Tangerines?

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:58 PM

      thank you, yes you may...I still have some on the tree.

      Delete
  7. PreciousKDMarch 17, 2010 at 10:31 PM

    Happy Birthday Matty! I still remember the day you were born. Tiny and adorable. Much love and will see you soon.

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:59 PM

      yes, it's so fast...do what you can to slow down time for Tyler.

      Delete
  8. UnknownMarch 18, 2010 at 1:41 AM

    Sweet :)

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:59 PM

      I try to be with MattLove, never know what we will get each day.

      Delete
  9. Anne Lyken-GarnerMarch 18, 2010 at 3:45 AM

    Ah, what a sweet post. You seem to have a great relationship. I hope I will with my son when he's 14.

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:03 PM

      I think you will have a good one with yours too.

      Delete
  10. diane bMarch 18, 2010 at 4:00 AM

    Happy Birthday contract son It isn't easy raising kids, but pays off in the end.

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  11. Icy BCMarch 18, 2010 at 6:34 AM

    Happy Birthday, Matt Love!

    I'm happy for you and Matt for having such a great relationship.

    Send those orange/tangerine my way, I'll eat them! I remember that tree well, as I've sit there many times..

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:03 PM

      I try, I think maybe I am just easy to please...;-)

      Delete
  12. DarlaMarch 18, 2010 at 9:33 AM

    With 5 children I can appreciate the sweetness of this post. Thanks for your visit, drop by anytime.

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:04 PM

      Five sounds like a huge number compared to three, but I have 10 other brothers and sisters that I do not even see that often.

      Delete
  13. LVMarch 18, 2010 at 2:53 PM

    Do doubt your son felt truly loved and honored you did this for him. They may not act like it, but they care. Wish I was there to pick me one of those tangerines. I love them. Thanks for your visit, but most of all for becoming one of my followers.

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:04 PM

      I am sure you are right, love between family is a natural thing. So I hope he will realize this one day.

      Delete
  14. TootsieMarch 19, 2010 at 1:20 AM

    you are so lucky to be able to grow them! what a wonderful plant!

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    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 1:56 PM

      Tootsie, I live where you can grow almost anything but...I haven't found out the but yet. :-)
      DragonFly Treasure, he even gave us some BD money back because he got mad at us. So all he received for his BD was this post from us.
      Troy, I probably will have to ask my customer for more Rosemary to see if I can grow some too. Thanks for the tips.

      Delete
  15. debMarch 19, 2010 at 8:10 AM

    Sweet post!!
    Happy Birthday Matt Love!
    *hugs*deb

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:05 PM

      Thank you. It is just like him, so be very sweet when he wants to be.

      Delete
  16. Avalon's Garden and Mewsings of Garden Cottage CatsMarch 19, 2010 at 10:53 AM

    Oh how sweet! Such a lovely post and such a sweet boy you have!! Happy Birthday to him! And your oranges look soooo good!!Have a great weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Self SagacityOctober 3, 2012 at 2:06 PM

      He has grown to be a really awesome boy since this post, and I am so happy for him and the world that will be waiting for him.

      Delete
  17. TroyMarch 19, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    I think the fact that a 14 year old son will talk to you, and not completely ignore you is a sign that you have done something right. What a fun post, and what an incredible tribute to a child, planting not just a tree in his honor, but one that will bear such colorful and desireable fruit.

    I hope his Birthday is a happy one, and just one of many, many more he enjoys.

    Thank you for visiting my blog. Rosemary can be grown from cuttings. It is not as easy to root as some plants, because it has a tougher stem, so I would use a rooting hormone on the cuttings to get them started, but it can be done successfully with a little patience.

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  18. Self SagacityApril 25, 2010 at 5:14 PM

    Tootsie, I live where you can grow almost anything but...I haven't found out the but yet. :-)
    DragonFly Treasure, he even gave us some BD money back because he got mad at us. So all he received for his BD was this post from us.
    Troy, I probably will have to ask my customer for more Rosemary to see if I can grow some too. Thanks for the tips.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Colette SJuly 15, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    That is so sweet that you have such a great relationship. A blessing.

    And how do you plant and take care of the tree and fend off bugs and the likes?

    Did he get his x-box? :)

    ReplyDelete

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