2010/11/02

Two-fer Tuesday: She’s 18 Now – Happy Birthday, Mojo!

DaGoddess @ 04:00

Oh, how the mother’s heart must stretch and flex in order not to break. My daughter is 18 today. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It’s not really happening. Wasn’t she just learning to walk? Wasn’t she just uttering words like “babingsuit” and “booprise”?

Time waits for no man, or woman as the case may be. Despite my every effort to hinder growth, my lovely little girl is now old enough to vote and is considered a legal adult. I’ve fought it, but there it is: nature won.

When Mojo was about 2, she fell in love with John Denver. Our bedtime routine included a couple different Denver songs, along with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Marine Corps Hymn. Hey, it got her to sleep and it was our special time together. (Did the same thing with my son and I have to say, singing our “goodnights” was pretty effective.)

So, without further ado, happy birthday, Mojo!

For a while, this was called “Mountain Mama” and also “Mama Take Me Home”. She was two. It was adorable.

Our version of this song was very similar, but we had to sing every verse. Twice.

Then she grew up and began paying attention to more Top 40 music (in addition to all my favorites, like Etta and Bonnie and Billie). I lamented the lack of artists that were brash, lovely, sometimes delicate, sometimes strong like those I grew up with — Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Joan Jett… After listening to Jewel and Britney once too often, I really thought my daughter deserved a contemporary female artist with a stronger voice and attitude. Thus we turned to P!nk. At the time, she really was the only one who could speak right to the heart of a young girl without sounding like a wannabe star or doormat.

Those were the days. Now my baby is all grown up and the world is going to expect more from her, people will expect more, life will become more complicated. While I’ll miss the little girl I once held in my arms as she cried and fussed and smiled and cooed and caused me to look at the world around me with new eyes, I will cheer her on as she makes her way into the great big world.

Now for Mommy’s tunes…

Happy birthday, my sweet daughter! I don’t care how old you are, you’ll always be my baby girl.

7 Comments

  1. Happy 18th Birthday, Mojo!! :nana: :clap: :yay:

    Comment by pam — 2010/11/02 @ 05:40

  2. :hug:

    Can we go back to when she was a toddler again? PLEASE?

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2010/11/02 @ 14:01

  3. Happy Birthday Mojo! :toast:

    And being a native of West Virginia I’m very familiar with your second song, which we used to sing as a family when I was little. Really hard for me to listen to today, because it reminds me of my dad. :(

    Comment by diamond dave — 2010/11/02 @ 19:06

  4. :hug: Dave, I hear ya.

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2010/11/02 @ 22:28

  5. Happy birthday, Mojo, I hope the path ahead is going to be a smoother one than of late.

    Comment by The Gray Monk — 2010/11/03 @ 04:52

  6. Happy birthday to Mojo…may life bless you with goodness.

    Comment by Mrs. Who — 2010/11/03 @ 17:28

  7. That’s the best birthday greeting EVER! Thank you

    Comment by DaGoddess — 2010/11/03 @ 19:55

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