9 years ago today my precocious son was born at 2:01am. Read his birth story here. Also 9 years ago, as I lay in bed recovering from the l&d, my new son sleeping near-by, HaSafran calls me (I had sent him home for some sleep and a shower). The conversation:
HS: You have mail. From Brandeis.
Me: So?
HS: I'm opening it. Dear KA, We are pleased to inform you of our acceptance into our Masters program...etc.
Me: What?
HS: Brandeis accepted you to their grad program, honey.
Me: Oh. I can't deal with this today. Can't you tell me tomorrow?
Brandeis was the first of 4 fabulous offers to Masters programs, and some truly difficult decisions--not only about whether we would move away from Chicago, or which school I would go to, but also whether or not this was the life we wanted to pursue for our family. We knew that if we made that decision that we were trading the steady 2-person income, the mortage and 2-car family for a harder (especially financially) academic lifestyle. (I wonder if I should stop speaking in the pluarl now, although I do think HaSafran would agree with me.) While it hasn't been an easy road, I feel truly blessed to have made the decisions we made, to be where I am (and where we are) today. We have B"H a wonderful family, and both HaSafran and I are doing something we love. The kids seem to be thriving (although Claire still does hate French; I'm not sure if that will ever go away). Thank G-d, we are a content family.
Ultimately, my kids' birthdays are days, for me, not only of celebration, but also reflection on the decisions we have made, on the people and family we have become, and on how we are raising our children. JR is a lovely and precocious young man, smart, exhausting, silly, and all things wonderful.
Happy birthday!
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