I am not the weepy mom on the first day of school. I don't caption pictures of my kids with "How can they be so big?" I do not wish to keep them little. I know what it is to have time stop for a child. This is my "10-year-old."

Ten years ago, I fully expected to be that tearful mom, marveling at her child entering school after wondering if he'd ever leave the hospital. But that is not our story. I may have tears today, this week, or any random day when a memory comes flooding back unexpectedly. But being Will's mom means that watching my children grow does not make me sad. That is his gift to me, birthday and every day.