Baby Blase

It occurred to me that a letter similar to the one I wrote my dad for his birthday might have been expected by my mom whose birthday it is today. Then I realized that I opened up a big fat can of worms with that letter, as Marc’s parents should each get a letter as well – so that I could share with the world how amazing I think they are for creating such a lovely human being that I was lucky enough to marry. And then why stop there – I could write a letter to my sister for teaching me so many things about compassion, thoughtful intelligence and grace…

For now, I will focus on my mom, because she – you know – gave me life and all.

This raising a kid thing is at once totally natural and completely foreign to me. And I see the same conflict in you when you are around the kid – your grandson. You are 100% in love with that boy of course, but, at the same time there is a part of you that can’t give your whole self over to him. There are some people who define themselves by their children and live for their kids – I think that is awesome and beautiful, but, us McKirdy ladies, I don’t think were made that way. I could not be more proud of being raised by a mother who loved and nurtured as much as taught us the meaning of entrepreneurship, hard work and success. A person who is as much a parent as she is an individual.

Watching you create your own business that turned from making a few pillows for friends around the neighborhood to creating custom fabric extravaganzas that hang in some of the most beautiful homes in the country to being published was a tremendous gift. I owe much of my success to you.

As a child, I never for one moment felt that work took away from your time with me – which speaks to your abillity to balance life and work. I don’t believe that there was a single soccer or softball game (and there were A LOT) that you missed. You have been a constant cheerleader for Kylie and me. Always able to focus on our individual stregnths – you made Kylie and me always feel equally loved, and praised.

I strive to be as passionate a parent, business owner and woman as you are.

Thank you for being my mom, role model and a wonderful grandma.

Love, Aimee

Listening: The Beta Band