By the time most of you read this
especially if you are part of Paint Party Friday,
a miracle will have occurred
and Phantom Steve will be 16 years old
and while this painting
isn't true indication of the love and pride I feel
and I had a great painting all planned in my head
to celebrate the milestone
of her surviving our somewhat haphazard parenting
but in our defence parenting dear Phantom
hasn't always been easy....
16 years ago I was swearing like a sailor
and experiencing the joy of an endless
and I mean endless, 30 plus hour labour
throughout which Sinus insisted on playing cards
so he could finally beat me at gin
but eventually she showed up
just as I got a good hand mind
and the fun began
There was the infamous cat stage
where she would only eat off a plate on the ground
and answer in meows
there was the naked or ballgown stage
the I will only wear tap shoes stage
there was the stage of pretending to be a lion
and insisting on scaring the living bejeesus out of
poor unsuspecting travellers at Narita Airport
the hanging out in boxes and bag stage
there was the sleep walk and stand next to the bed stage
which took about 10 years off our lives
there was the I won't eat foods that are touching each other stage
hang on that was still making an appearance last week
the I am going to dunk my snakes in the tea stage...
the I am going to teach you physics if it the last thing we all do stage
I am so hoping the end is in sight for that one
the I love Liza and all things musical stage
again hoping that one comes to an end soon
the endless name changes, from Cat, Aurora, Peg,
Beaver.... yes Beaver.... Peg 2, Chris and Rex, through
to the more recent Cub BBQ as homage to Bear Grylls
Phantom Steve, Batman Steve
and back to Phantom
which even poor Mushu finds confusing
no wonder he doesn't answer to his name
he probably thinks everyone has a million names
There have been endless school pick ups and drop offs
lunch boxes and uniforms
and of course
the ridiculously huge number of moments
when she has made us teary and proud
with her obscene list of achievements
and her complete and utter wonderfulness
it has been a ride if nothing else
and we have been blessed to have her hanging out with us
and for those of you concerned that this may be a bit
over sharing and embarrassing for her
I will refer you back to
30
plus
hours
of labour
and now the cake making awaits!!!!
birthday update....my birthday post for Phantom was trumped
by Aunt Jen over at Just Add Water Silly and her birthday tribute to
P.Steve... nice one Jen...xx
birthday update....my birthday post for Phantom was trumped
by Aunt Jen over at Just Add Water Silly and her birthday tribute to
P.Steve... nice one Jen...xx
Other gems from this week...
54 comments:
I feel you're pain Tracey because I too had a 36 hours of torture awaiting my daughters arrival. She finally decided to join the party!
You'd think the girls would have more consideration being future woman...but nah! What a ride since then...I can relate to all you say plus a few additional ones such as constantly warning that standing on tiptoe in wood block ballet shoes would damage her feet...well she wishes she'd listened to that one!
But like you since those 36 hours of 'HELL' (just in case she reads this ;D) we've had some pretty wonderful priceless amazing times together ~ again in case she reads this!
Enjoy the day together because like my daughter she may be on the other side of the world one day...Happy Birthday Phantom or whatever you choose your name to be today. Enjoy!
Happy Birthday, Phantom! And way to go, mom!
A big happy birthday to Phantom, sweet 16, such a lovely age. I can't share the long labour pain with you as both of mine pretty much fell out but they have more than made up for it since. Little miss still won't have food touching, what is it with that anyway. The one thing we all have in common is that we wouldn't give them up for anything, most of the time (I have two 21st's this year, so I might change my mind on that).
Enjoy this beautiful day with Miss P, they grow up too fast these days.
Von.
Your Phantom reminds me of my niece. While still only three she is a woman who knows EXACTLY what she wants and what she doesn't. The world needs more strong women like them both. They could teach some of us a lesson (or six). Of course, that doesn't mean I don't thank my lucky stars that I'm not their mothers!! Happy 16 years of being a mom. xx
Oh Grief, my daughter hung out in boxes and then also went through the sleep walk stage. Yikes. Your creativity is fascinating and I love the story. Blessings, Janet PPF
A very happy Birthday P. You deserve all the wonderfulness you can soak up. Enjoy your birthday WEEK. You're welcome. hehehe.
Oh...what a lovely birthday woohoo for your daughter...and i love your painting...30 hours tho...geez....i thought 4 was bad...but Caesars are worse...lol...xxx
Phantom must be quite pleased with her painting. Well done, Mom! (and 30+ hours of labour, goodness!)
Happy birthday Phantom. I really enjoyed getting to know her. Sixteen is a magical age. Have fun enjoying it with her.
Love this post Tracey! What an exciting age. My Son turns thirteen this Summer and I'm sharing your sweet nostalgia. Happy PPF! Wonderful drawings! Happy Birthday Phantom.
Oh what a wonderful post!! You have such a way of writing. What a delight! i think your girl will be pleased;) Happy birthday Phantom !
30 plus hours of labor!?!?! She should be making yu a cake!
Happy, happy birthday, Phantom!
What a gorgeous post!! Happy Birthday Phantom...think I'd love the Liza Minelli stage myself :) Not quite sure how that goes with physics though!! How interesting..my daughter has been in the pink phase since she was born! Maybe I can look forward to (or dread)some of the phases you mentioned!!Happy cake making! (Ps I hate making cakes!! up there with vacuuming....)
Hope you are now riding into smoother waters with your princess! Valerie
Loving your fab post and congratulations to your daughter on her birthday, she obviously deserves this post. Hope you both have a fab day. Happy PPF, Annette x
happy birthday to phantom! what a great painting--perfect for a card:) Super mom you are. Cheers!
Yiiiippppeee, happy birthdy to phantom! What a whimsical painting, so much fun! :)
Wonderful post- she sounds like an amazing girl! And the painting is perfect, Happy Birthday!
Cute blogpost (except for the agonizing labor!) Loved the stages! Patsy from
HeARTworks
I have two children. A boy of 15 and a girl of 20. Adele is still going through stages even now, but these days her boyfriend deals with them - phew!! And Charlie, well he is going through the 'hanging off of me' stage, even though he is 6 inches taller than me! I laughed at your comical post and loved your photo's. I can SO relate! My babies came out like bullets though! 4hrs, 6 minutes and five hours, 3 minutes. Absolute agony though - and yes, I remind them off that when I feel the need, lol ;0)
Phantom sounds like a great kid, and I am here to wave the flag for "haphazard parenting". I think the ultimate compliment is when adults don't mind hanging out with your kid.
By the way, love the red nail polish on Phantom Steve...that is my kind of superhero.
what a great post - I love all the various stages she has gone and is still going through, makes me think of the things I did as a kid and feel sorry for my mum!!
Great photos and beautiful illustrations as always. Happy sweet 16 to Phantom Steve (did I miss the post where you explained why she's called that?!!)
Happy Sweet 16 to Phantom. You are a hero too, Mom. Happy PPF
Phantom should be nothing but proud of this post - your love shines in every irreverent word! I have two boys so their phases were somewhat different, but isn't it great to have such an individual, original, bright and articulate, well read, challenging daughter? We need more like her in the world. Happy Birthday Phantom!
happy birthday to your dear Phantom, such a wonderful fun painting to celebrate!
What a fun story from first push to dunking snakes! Love your style but you already know that! Great birthday card!
Happy, happy, happy birthday, Phantom! You are the only person I know who changes her name regularly. Are you sure you don't want to be a new breed of physics-actress? Enjoy your cake!! ;)
Congrats to the Birthday girl and Mom also for giving birth ~ Sixteen is not an easy age to parent ~ Kudos! ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^
Congrats to the Birthday girl and Mom also for giving birth ~ Sixteen is not an easy age to parent ~ Kudos! ~ thanks, namaste, ^_^
Happy Birthday to your daughter, Tracey! Sweet 16 is an important year for her, and you, too.
Happy Birthday, Phantom Steve! Wow, 16 years old! My son is just about half way there, so I read with amused recognition some of the stages you've mentioned. :-)
Happy Birthday to the Phantom! :)) You did an awesome job to celebrate it on the blog.:)Wonderful drawings!
wonderful and heart warming post ! I have four sons and I have had very similar stages with them all. but as always they are our love of our lives I feel your pride in your phantom gal. she must be as creative and special as her mum
-KAT-
Happy 16th birthday Phantom!
Welcome to the moms of 16 year olds club Tracey. :)
You have me beat on my 22 hour labor!! Happy Birthday to your dear Phantom!! Your illustration is so fun!! Do you think having that much pain absolves us from having difficult children. I am shocked at how easy my daughter was to raise. My mom used to say I can't wait until you have a 13 year old...I kept waiting for her to turn on me!! She's 26 and never did....I consider myself one of the lucky ones!! Sounds like you might be too!!!
Happy Birthday, dear Phantom Steve Cat Aurora Peg Beaver Peg 2 Chris Rex Cub BBQ, Happy Birthday to you!
p.s. just for the record, I see absolutely nothing wrong with going through a cat stage. Meow :)
Happy Birthday Phantom Steve!
The phantom card is full of awesome and deserves a better comment but now I have to scour your website for any sign of Batman as I may obsess a little when it comes to him. (just a little)
Happy late birthday, to PSteve!
Great personalized painting, and I really like your Delicate Attempt, too.
My son is 20 and he still won't eat food that is touching. And he has to eat all of one food, then all the next, then all the next. He can't eat some of one then a taste of the other. Drives me nuts. Unfortunately, he's not that great at physics. :)
Happy Birthday to 'Phantom Steve' and love your other gems too!
I love everything about this post! And have enjoyed catching up on some of the other adventures within the last week - LOVE batman Steve (with a crown no less) and this post's description of all the adventures she got into as a child. I bet 16 years flew by - congratulations on the milestone and beautiful, wonderful painting to commemorate it!
Would LOVE to have you join in The Summer of Color - it really is so much fun to see everyone's take on the same color prompts, xoxo
Great painting, great post, and a Happy Birthday to Phanthom!! Happy PPF!
Happy Birthday, Phantom!
Love the Phantom birthday painting!
♥♥♥
Happy PPF, too!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art
Happy Birthday Phantom Steve! Great Birthday Painting and great to read about your adventures. My daughter turned sweet sixteen in March, wonderful age! :)
I've never had children but, due to my illness (endometriosis) I have labour pains almost daily, so that I have to start breathing and walking around the table.... I can understand what you felt that day. :))
Love your paintings and your posts!!
Happy birthday to you,
Squashed tomatoes and stew
Bread and butter in the gutter, Happy Birthday to you!
Oops, sorry Phantom Steve, I forgot you don't like mess.. Hmm....
Happy Birthday to you
All shiny and new
Everything's neat and tidy
Happy Birthday to you!!
Hope it was a fab day sweet 16 :)
from the Mess Monster xx
Happy B-day Phantom! You've been busy with lots of wonderful paintings!
Have a great weekend.
happy birthday to the Phantom! What a beautiful post, words and photos, are lovely,
I have had to close When the bough breaks and start a brand new blog, I hope you will find me again, I'm starting right from scratch, so I have joined yuour blog again,
oh Tracey, your stories always make me laugh... Thank you for that. :-)
We've been through similar stages with our son (who is also 16!) with the playing in boxes and not eating foods that touch on another. hehehehheee... oh, and i was also 30 hours in labor, so there you go. We're soul sisters. I knew that already though.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Phantom!! xoxo
Happy Birthday Phantom! Give your mom a big hug and a kiss....she's a fabulous mom! Love the painting as always Tracey and your awesome story to go with it.
what a very lovely tribute to your dear "Phantom" (Love the red nails!)...a mother's Love knows no boundaries
AND
how is it that they grow up so quickly!!!
oxo
I love hearing about phantom steve! I'm so glad she lets you tell her stories.... quirky(and i mean that in a great way) kids are so much fun! Mine are the same but they don't want me telling tales about them much.
I have so many of your posts to catch up on...
And i am so sorry about feeding your new obsession... Tea is a harmless obsession though, with all the great boxes and flavors. Still, my husband thinks i need to finish a box before i buy another one.... Silly man!
Very nice and interesting pictures here.
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Happy happy birthday PS. I think I have incarnate PS2 on my hands....only she is 10 years behind. Can you send the parenting manual over please Ms F-K? I'm gonna be needing that. hugs xx
Singing Happy Birthday across the miles.. I think I smell the cake!!
Never let them forget the hours of labor! Every time we talk about my daughter's entrance into the world, I add a few hours!!
and then I say... "some day", some day" the sacrifices we make!
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