We Lived a Lot of Life

Portugal has beautiful beaches. I'm so thankful I was able to share them with Jack.

March 20, 2026

My baby boy turns eighteen today.

Holy smokes… how did we get here?

Kids are such powerful markers of time. The last eighteen years somehow feel like they flew by, and at the very same time, I remember how slow they felt while I was living them.

I was reflecting with a friend about his birthday, and she said, “Wow. Eighteen years. Where has the time gone?”

And without even thinking, I replied, we lived a lot of life in those eighteen years.

From birthday parties and playdates…

to parent-teacher conferences, school concerts, and sporting events…

from family trips that included New York City, Mexico, and Belize…

to winter camping, cabin trips, and boating excursions…

and a special trip he and I took to Portugal and Spain.

We didn’t just pass time.

We filled it.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, Jack grew into a genuinely good young man.

I am so very proud of him.

I do have to be a little careful these days though—

he recently told his sisters that he is obviously my favorite.

I was quick to correct that (because it’s absolutely not true)…

but I will admit,

a new tux and a “new-to-him” car for his eighteenth birthday may have made him feel a little extra special.

And while I don’t have a favorite—

I do have this quiet awareness today

of just how much love, time, growth, and life it takes

to raise a human being.

Eighteen years.

We didn’t just get here.

We built this.

Almost all ready for prom. When I asked him if he had a date he turned bright red and cringed. It was hilarious. He does, but, apparently, I can't meet her. I'm not cool enough, I guess.

I need to figure out how to be more equitable with birthday present giving. Jack gets a "new to him" car, Desiree celebrated her sweet sixteen in Cancun, and Emily got family photos when she turned 18. Emily did not hesitate to point that out to me. She is the middle child — this tracks.