Mama's Memories for M: All This Wisdom and You're Only Just Now Turning 15

Suirong,

First up, let me hit you with a riddle of sorts. It's a recent quote that came up while we were doing something fun for the Lunar New Year. Can you guess what we were doing when I said..."give me a fatty with a triple nipple, and make it a double!" ...... Legos! Haha! Not what you thought, huh?

I ordered the coolest Chinese New Year Lego set and
we put it together in one evening! it was so much fun!

top view...6 different scenes of traditional Lunar
New Year celebrations

fortunate enough to get a beautiful snow for CNY

Alomg with lunar new year, late January also brought our annual belated family Christmas celebration and overnight trip with Lao Lao and your uncles and aunts.

just after discovering Grizz had shit all over
the back of the car with only 8 min left in
our long drive to Hocking Hills

the Earth House (underground and
utilizing all sorts of climate friendly features)

you even got to try your hand at axe throwing

Daddy and I took a hike

puzzle time with Aunt Kenzie

hot tub!

After Chinese New Year and our belated Christmas, you and I spent a Saturday morning getting Dragon Donuts and shopping at Easton and down through Short North. Then, we went back out again on Sunday and hit Korean corn dogs, coffee, and boba again. Soaking up the sun (while we have it in wintry Ohio). While I didn't capture a single photo (harder to do as you are in your teen years), I had such a fun time hanging with you and it meant so much to hear those four words when we got home..."I had fun today". As I navigate my own mid-life and wondering who I am anymore, while parenting a teenager who needs me less and less in certain ways...you have no idea how big those small gestures of appreciation can feel. I love you, kid.

Also, I just have to mention that you came home after conversing with your school counselor about your IEP and our upcoming annual meeting. You are so stoked about your future, even used the expression of "we're getting the ball rolling for after school!" and dreaming of a potential career in nursing. Let me just say that listening to your zest, anticipation, positive attitude and confidence in what is next fills my heart with so much joy. It's truly hard to adequately express in words. God, I love being your parent.

And while I love being your parent, you love your food...and the trips for Korean deliciousness after haircuts with Lao Lao.

a little tteokbokki at A&J Wingburger with Lao Lao

Speaking of Lao Lao, she treated me to a concert for Noah Kahan and I think I've officially converted her to being a fangirl. His music is wonderful. And the pic below is Lao Lao and I drinking a mystery shot that we asked the bartender to surprise us with before the show.

green tea shots = delicious

everyone was singing at the top of their lungs to all of his lyrics...I hope you get to experience concerts with this type of energy

and this is just our silly GG, thinking he is part dog

Daddy and I on a date night with our random
bags of cheese...don't ask!

And while there was a lot of fun and games, there were some hard lessons lately, too. See below, as I shared it on social media. What a lesson.

Along with schooling me on life lessons, you've also become quite talented in the kitchen.

you're getting to be quite the chef lately...Korean
fried rice is your current specialty

Patty and Papa Joe were traveling through town and so we
met them for dinner one night...good to catch up

And, just like that after our dinner with the Shavers...it was time for something kinda huge around these parts. Another birthday for you ~ #15! What?! How?! Time sure is flying.

We did much of our celebrating at home on the day before your birthday since March 6th fell on a Monday this year. But it worked out well, all the same.

On your actual birthday, I picked you up early from school because you were tired and I also figured what better a day to "kinda" play hooky than on your birthday. After school, we decided on an impromptu driving lesson with you (and Avery) which was fun. It's very evident how much of a natural you are, which I already knew.

So, back to the day prior to your birthday...the preparations...

the traditional "secret" birthday run for balloons

The next couple text threads are how I got you to stay in your room until we were ready to surprise you. I'm not the best at being sneaky or subtle. Ha.

And here's my birthday message to you as seen on socials:

Today you are officially one year away from a driver's license and 3 years away from your first vote. Hard for me to believe sometimes. Definitely in my feels this week.

Your questions in life have become increasingly complex over the years. A hug and a band-aid just don't cut it anymore. In turn, our conversations have become deeper and deeper. And I adore every minute of them. You challenge me in ways I never realized I needed to grow until you came along. And watching as you navigate the world with a wisdom and maturity that I never possessed at your age has been so intriguing to me. You fill me with hope for the future.

I'm also hopeful that this next year will bring you new experiences, adventure, connection, and answers to what you seek. But, if sometimes it only brings more questions, that's ok, too. We don't always have to know exactly how we got here, where we're going, or where we'll end up to enjoy the ride.

I love you, kiddo. Happy birthday!

I'm so grateful for you, for your first family halfway around the world, and also that you still look forward to our silly birthday morning traditions. 😉❤️ 🎉🎂🥳❤️

mochi donuts I special ordered for you!

your heritage, culture, birth country (and family) are such important
pieces of your identity, we're probably overdue for a 23 and Me kit
so your birthday was a great opportunity for us to get one ~ exciting!

On Monday (your actual birthday), we went to dinner with the grandparents (and Mere).

heading out to birthday dinner at A&J Wingburger's

We were all a bit surprised, ok, SHOCKED, that Memaw and Papaw tried all kinds of new Korean foods at dinner. They especially liked tteokbokki and bulgogi. Papaw even had multiple helpings and the spices made him cough and squeak. I was so surprised and proud of them for being more open. It was SO nice.

I think you're both taller than Memaw now!

While you may be 15 now, you also explained to me that you put all of your stuffies on your bed in the corner to cover up the "monster hole" so no monsters can reach up and grab you. I love this so much, it's unbelievable. Ha.

Switching gears a bit, and on a more somber note, the LGBTQ community and, in particular, drag has been under attack lately throughout the country. That being said, we've been trying to better support anything LGBTQIA (as per usual) but with a bigger focus on drag right now. So, not only did I volunteer to help with the Westerville Queer Collective at a recent drag show...

Crunch Wrap the Queen

Clinica Deprecious (my favorite local drag queen)

But, we (me, Lao Lao, Kelly, and Marisha) also attended a drag show at a local bar. Bossy Girls' Pin-up Joint. It was a really fun time and, little did I realize, a friend was actually a performer. So cool!

Daddy and I are friends with the queen in the red dress...
Reese S Pieces!

Spring break week was more low key than last year. We stayed local and I took the afternoons off so you could sleep in and then we could go out and find new restaurants to try in the afternoons/evenings. We also made time for a mani (for you) and a pedi (for me), a late trip to Sonic for our favorite slush floats, and illegal driving lessons in empty parking lots where we even scored a "free" orange cone! By the end of the week, you, Lao Lao and I headed to Cleveland for the weekend to see if the rumors of an Asiatown were true. While the Asiatown rumors are technically true, it was pretty lackluster, not much to it at all and definitely not a particular destination or defined area, however, we did eat some of the most amazing Korean food and stayed in a hotel with a pool...so I'll call it a win anyway!