Some 14 years ago, while sitting in my kitchen I day dreamed about gardening. I had an incredible urge to touch and feel my plants on my very last days of pregnancy. Unlike other days when I resisted, I could no longer hold my urge. So there I was, very engaged in my planting when my water broke. I experienced the most difficult childbirth known to me, and always wondered if it had anything to do with the baby's personality.


Before M's teen years, he and I had contracts for everything, brushing teeth, changing clothes, and even eating! Crazy huh? It’s true, we lived this way for many years.

Today is his Birthday! I am so proud we made it to his fourteenth Birthday with good health and a great relationship. He is the son who melts my heart with surprised tender moments. He is passionate, very intuitive, very strong will, and very smart.

One day, he came up to me and started reading out loud one of my blog posts. I thought for sure he was going to make a joke, or laugh at it, but he smiled and said "I like it mom." There isn't a word to described the joy that I had because it was so amazing. It was as if watching a fruit tree bare fruit after so many years of not.

We are still making contracts though it’s rare. The only one we currently have is for him to pull-up his grades in return for his XBOX, and I can’t wait for the day he show me his victory.

My son, only a few of us are blessed with this challenge.

Whether you remember or not, the Tangerine tree below is with us because you loved it and wanted me to plant it for you some six years ago. It has only begun to reward us with fruits the last two years, but we have already benefited in many ways.

Happy Birthday Contract Son!