Today I turn 34 years old. Me. 34. I find this totally surreal. I am far beyond the age of eagerly anticipating my birthday. There is nothing I can do legally at 34 that I could not do at 33. Or at 27. I can drive, vote, drink, rent a car and eat nothing but strawberry jam for a week if the fancy hits me. Which makes me wonder, why have I never spent a week eating nothing but strawberry jam? Or even just an afternoon?
When you’re a kid you think adults have it all figured out. I’m sure that when I turned 4, 30 years ago now, I believed that my mother knew everything there was to know. I think I needed to believe that, then. Children need to trust their parents to have the answers for them. I know that my 5-year-old Hannah trusts me to have the answers for her. When she asks me a question and I can’t respond she is somewhat baffled. “But you’re a grown-up, you have to know,” she says.
My 4th birthday, 30 years ago (!!!)
These days, I know that adults don’t have it all figured out. I’m not sure that most of us even have it half figured out. I suppose that no one ever does. Einstein might have been a brilliant physicist, but apparently his French wasn’t so hot and he had a turbulent family life. I suppose this means that it’s OK to not have it all figured out. It’s not necessary to have all your ducks in a row, and it’s probably not even possible. At least not all the time.
Looking back, I have accomplished some things in the past year. I wrote my maternity leave guide, I’ve done some speaking gigs and I have another one on Saturday, I have submitted articles (which were politely declined) and landed a freelance job. No, I do not have it all figured out, but I’m learning, and I suppose that’s what really matters. Even if I can’t see the direction I’m going, I seem to be on the move. That’s something to celebrate.
Today there will be cake and presents. Today is my day. It is all about me, whether I have it figured out or not. Whether I know what the next year holds or not. I will gather my family and my kids will blow out my candles and I will eat far too many sweets. I will celebrate, and I will look forward to the year ahead. May it hold much in the way of pleasant surprises and ice cream sundaes.
Happy birthday to me!
PS – I am a finalist in Vancouver Mom‘s Favourite Vancouver Mom Blogger contest! If you’d vote for me (and any other fabulous contestants you read) once a day until May 6 I’d be ever so grateful. 
Happy Birthday! Thirty four was a good year for me. Actually, the thirties just got better and better and now I’m in my forties I hope for the same. Many Happy Returns! Have a spectacular day.
.-= Tepary´s last post ..Prickly Topics =-.
Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday! For a few months, you’re older than me!
And remember, there are no calories in Birthday Cake/Ice Cream/snacks/strawberry jam.
Happy Birthday Amber! All the best to you on this special day.
Happy birthday! There is something so nice about the kids’ excitement with blowing out the birthday candles – it makes it make sense to do the whole cake and candles thing, even if you wouldn’t otherwise. Enjoy!
.-= macondo mama´s last post ..Lost opportunities =-.
Happy Birthday!
Definitely take the time to eat all the jam you want to!
I find birthdays have been more fun now that I’m a Mommy. Hope you can treat yourself to some YOU time too.
Happy Birthday!
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last post ..The Vision =-.
Happy Birthday, you young thing, you. Hope it’s a great day and an even better year!
.-= Ironic Mom´s last post ..Retro Parenting: 5 Fun Phrases Our Parents Used =-.
Happy birthday from a fellow 34 year old
Wishing you lots of love, smiles, and learning this year!
.-= Dionna @ Code Name: Mama´s last post ..Disposable Diapers? Those are so last decade . . . =-.
Happy Birthday! I hope it is a wonderful day!
.-= Caroline´s last post ..Jeremiah – Part 3 =-.
Happy Birthday, Amber!
Happy birthday — Angus’s is tomorrow, and he knows people with b-days on the first, second third and fourth, so we needed a fill-in.
. I guess you’re probably not getting a basketball, a Pokemon video game and Aeropostale t-shirts, but I hope your presents bring similar clamorous rejoicing.
.-= allison´s last post ..******************That about sums it up =-.
Happy birthday! Hope you have a great day. And try to get some strawberry jam into your belly, okay?
.-= melissa´s last post ..I love a good magazine =-.
Happy Birthday, Amber!
The day we have it all figured out is the day it starts to get boring. Thank heavens I’m no where close.
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Shower Troubles =-.
Oh happy Birthday Amber!
.-= kelly (@kblogger)´s last post ..My Motherhood Roadmap =-.
Happy birthday, Amber!
I’m definitely still figuring things out and learning every day! Life wouldn’t be a lot less fun I wasn’t!
Hope you have a great special day – enjoy your family and eat some strawberry jam!
Happy birthday – well done on inching another year closer to the fabulous forties where life looks no less puzzling but it’s much more fun in the moment
.-= pomomama aka ebbandflo´s last post ..my weekend =-.
The older I get, the less clear the answers become. I may become one of those parents who answers every question with a question
Happy Birthday or Feliz Cumpleanos. Have a burrito and kill two birds with one stone. Woop!
Happy Birthday Amber!!
Happy Birthday!!! I seriously can’t believe you are 10 years older than me! How come none of the moms in their 30′s I meet in real life are as cool as you?
We should seriously designate a day as Strawberry Day and see how many people we could get onboard with eating something strawberry that day! I’m in for sure!
.-= Maman A Droit´s last post ..Tuesday is Newsday =-.
HB!
Happy birthday to you!
.-= Capital Mom´s last post ..Close your eyes =-.
Happy birthday, you! A great post that gave me a huge grin!
Happy Birthday Amber! Cinco de Mayo too! And International Day of the Midwife!! Lots to celebrate. I’m going to open some jam and eat to your health.
.-= BluebirdMama´s last post ..Stages of Motherhood =-.
Happy Birthday Amber! I have no answers either, although I’m quite a bit older than you are, but I think I’ve learned at least in which direction to look (or not to look). Hope you had a very happy day. I love the photo of your smiley self at 4.
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Corner View ~ garden =-.
Happy birthday! Better get on that week of jam! Add that to your “things to do before 35 list”.
.-= AmberDusick´s last post ..on being a mom & baby souvenirs =-.
Happy Birthday!
Pssst… at 35 it ALL becomes clear.
.-= Betsy´s last post ..Three Conversations =-.
Only 365 days until total clarity? Woohoo!
Happy Birthday Amber. We share the same birthday exactly 10 years apart!
Happy Birthday, Amber! May all your wishes come true this year. I turned 36 in February, and I’m loving being in my 30′s. I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been!
.-= Roula´s last post ..Blessed =-.