You see, this year, when I turned forty and you turned twenty, is remarkable for several reasons. The first is that you are now as old as I was the year that I gave birth to you. I think about that year, and where I was in my life, and I look at you, and where you are in your life, and I am so proud of you. By twenty, we both had overcome huge hurdles, and unthinkable adversities, and while I felt like I was still struggling to get out from under the weight of mine at twenty, I look at you and feel that you have risen above yours. Life is not always easy, and your path may continue to twist and turn, and there may be mountains for you to climb still, but you should feel encouraged knowing that you have the strength to overcome those challenges. You have done it before, and you will be able to do it again. If you ever doubt yourself, all you have to do is reach out, and I will be your biggest cheerleader. I'll even get the stupid pop-poms, if that is what it takes.
This year, you have been alive for half of my life. Moving forward, you will have been a part of my life for more than half of it, and that is so mind-blowing to me. The part of my life that was before you, will be smaller than the part of my life with you, and eventually, it will be of little significance. For almost half of my life, you have been here, at home, and now you are moving into a period of your life when you are making preparations to move on with your life. I am excited for you, and sad for me at the same time. Your life is just beginning, and you have great potential and are going to do amazing things, I just know it. I cannot wait to hear about the places that you go, and the projects that you work on, and the things that you are part of, that mostly I will not understand. Never forget that you will always have a place here as well. Never forget that even if things don't work out, and the project fails, or the job falls through, I am still proud of you. Never forget that I love you with all of my heart. Happy birthday.
