Sweet Child Of Mine

April 21, 1988, I was just a 15-year-old little girl, about to celebrate her 16th birthday, in just two days. My mother comes out to the living room where my best friend and me are sitting watching music videos.

She asks me, "Is there any chance you could be pregnant?"

Me and my friend exchange looks.

My mother says."I knew it. I knew that is why you have been so sick."

Later that evening she brings me a pregnancy test, a two pack. The next morning before school I take the first one. Its positive, April 23rd, my 16th birthday I take the second one to be sure. It's also positive.

Fast forward to December 16, 1988. My son Nicholas Jeffery is born. At 7:02 AM, 7 lbs, 8 oz, 19 inches long. Red hair, blue eyes. He came crashing into the world with vengeance. He had the cord wrapped around his neck, and he swallowed something he shouldn't have on his way into the world, not breathing, and needing his stomach pumped.

They briefly showed him to me from across the room.While my mother, my coach, lied to me, and told me everything was fine. They rushed him off to intensive care.

Before they took me to my room, they had stopped me by the intensive-care nursery, and laid him on my chest for a quick minute, as they needed to get him back. I remember the nurses telling me how handsome he was, and they nicknamed him Lady Killer. After his rough start in life, and four days later, we were able to bring him home.

From the time I brought him home, till now, I have always sang "Sweet Child O' Mine," by Guns 'n' Roses, to him. He was the best and sweetest thing to ever come into my life, even though it wasn't very long, but still, many years later, I still feel the same. This song became Nick's song from me, and even my mother would sing it to him. He had the bluest eyes, and warmest hair. I never wanted the cruel world to touch him.

Through the years I'd love telling you I was the perfect mother, and nothing ever went wrong, but the truth is I was a 16-year-old little girl who knew absolutely nothing about life, or being a mother. My own childhood a complete mess, but that's a story for another time.

Nick was what kept me going, and not hitting rock bottom, though many times it may have seemed like I was at the bottom. He was always very independent and strong, and so smart. I wondered at times where I got such an amazing child.You likely think I'm just like every fond parent, who typically thinks their child is the best, but truthfully, others have described my son this very way. There has, under no circumstances, been a person who didn't love my kid.

Woefully, we have never been close. Not like I am typically with my other three children. I guess maybe that undoubtedly has much to do with my age, and apparent lack of experience when I had him.

I've always longed to be closer to him. Above all, when he joined the Navy and moved to Japan. When he came home, and got his own place, when he enlisted in the National Guard. When he came back, and met the love of his life, when he moved out to be with her, then their own home. Got married. When they found out they were expecting, then that precious little boy arrived, making me a grandmother. While always being included, I've constantly felt on the outside looking in at the life of my sweet child.

Fast forward to May 4, 2019.

Nicholas and Kaitlin have their official church wedding. It was so stunningly beautiful. I went specifically, and got a lovely dress, had my hair and makeup professionally done. I wanted to be sure Nick was proud of his old imperfect Mom. I was assured many times throughout the day how pretty I looked. Even Nick's dad said so. You wouldn't expect that would matter to me, but it did.

The church was absolutely magnificent. Nick was so very handsome, me and his dad commented to each other how lucky we were. Kate was the most blushing bride I've ever seen. Her sister sang during the ceremony, and was so so lovely. Nick's dad and I sat with our grandson during the ceremony, and his dad escorted me up the aisle after. Which just felt right for Nick to have both his parents there for him.

After pictures, we enjoyed a nice time sitting and chatting with family at the reception hall, till the bridge and groom got there. At that time we enjoyed a yummy dinner.

When I first got there, I asked the DJ to dedicate "Sweet Child of Mine" to the groom from his mother. Nick had announced weeks before he wasn't wanting to have the mother and son dance. Which made me sad a little. Therefore, I decided to at least get the DJ to play this song for my son.

During dinner the DJ played other songs. One came on, one Nick would repeatedly sing when he was younger. I walked up to say something to him about it. He told me he changed his mind if it was cool with me, we would have our dance. I was thrilled. He says what song should we do, and I informed him, there is only one song that is us. But it's not a slow song. He inquired how we were going to achieve this. I told him we would just figure it out as we go.

And that's exactly what we accomplished. Nick escorted me to the dance floor, and we just danced, and we sang the lyrics to each other, with me instantly changing the her to his. It was a first for the DJ. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life, and being a mother. I was more overjoyed than I have ever been. It meant so very much to me. Though to others it may have seemed like nothing special, because of our relationship, it was so much more to me.

I spent the rest of the reception sitting contentedly with my grandson, my "sweet child of mine part 2." My glorious night was complete.