Hannah Alexandra Sala at 20 Minutes Old

If you asked me a few years ago if I wanted children, I probably answered no, maybe, I don’t know. I liked the idea of children, but I was just so unsure of where life was going and I was mainly scared that a child might, for lack of a better word, hold me back. From what, I do not know. I really think that my answer was just a cop-out and that the underlying truth was that I was afraid to take on any “REAL” responsibility. Most decisions in life you can choose to walk away from if they are not going your way including careers, relationships, debt and more. Children are a completely different story.

I have made some poor decisions in my life like everyone else, but most of them will not have a major impact years from now. Good and bad choices are all part of the journey of living and learning.  Having a child is an extremely important decision to make because they are there for the long haul.You never get to look back and you never want to. As soon as you have a child of your own, you realize that it was one of the greatest things to have ever happened to you. Period. Children enrich you in  many ways both big and small. Hannah makes me a much more responsible person, yet at the same time, she allows me be that wide-eyed kid again (That wasn’t too hard). It has been years since I walked in the toy aisles (this doesn’t count my 3 years as the toy dept head of the now defunct Service Merchandise Co.) in search of fun things to bring home.

Hannah Alexandra Sala Jan. 2010

Hannah is one years old today. Before her birth, I did not have a family of my own. I had a loving family that I am part of, but not one that I created. Today, I have both and it is amazing. Hannah has made our immediate family a bit larger and she brings enjoyment to all of those in it.  It will be nice to enjoy Hannah’s birthday as just a family event. When she is older, she will not remember her first birthday, so we do not find it necessary to throw a grand party for her. She does not understand it yet and she will not for the next few birthdays, but we do. When you have children, their birthdays become your own as well. It is a wonderful thing.

Happy First Birthday Darling!

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