Today’s Robin’s 31st birthday. Lately his life’s been an uphill climb, working very long hours for a good cause. But as long as you’re still climbing, you’re not over the hill… so there’s still lots more to look forward to. I’m so proud of all he’s accomplished. He’s really quite amazing.
I can’t help thinking back to his birth and my life as his mother. I’ve grown along with him, starting with the discovery upon his birth that I had to quickly become a grownup. I could no longer be the free-spirited, hippie artist, selling my batiks and ceramics in the daily street fair on Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue (much like San Francisco’s more famous Haight-Ashbury), hitch-hiking here and there, following my whims.
Before he was born my silly idea was that I’d strap him onto my back like a papoose and continue making pottery, up to my elbows in wet clay. Instead I was up to my elbows in mashed carrots, baby spit-up, poopy diapers, and piiles of laundry…and then it was time for another feeding…another diaper… He slept little and neither did I. But we survived and he thrived and 31 years have flown by. Motherhood…wouldn’t trade it for anything!
(Ink & watercolor in Moleskine watercolor notebook)
Jana Bouc, Artist 
11 replies on “Happy Birthday Robin”
PRECIOUS!!! My youngest just turned 30 this year — and I too feel the swift passage of time! What a wonderful tribute to him, Jana!
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This is a beautiful painting! Funny how Mother hood never quite matches up to what we think it will be like, does it? My eldest is 33 this year, so I can certainly relate!
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Happy Birthday to your Robin. I love the tone of this post, and the picture is a terrific tribute to a son who’s someone to be proud of. My own sons (they’re twins) will be eleven tomorrow, and I hope when they grow up I can say the same of them: that they’re working hard to do something they care a lot about. Best, BL
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Happy Birthday Robin! My own #1 son is only 13 but I can easily fast forward to where you are now, especially as his dad told me yesterday that he’s taller than me now — and I’m 6′!! Lovely sketch.
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Very sweet and from the heart! Every mother has to love this and feel the same way.
And now I feel bad because my daughter was born on the same day!! And I did nothing like this. 😦
Love the tire shadows!
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You have had a fascinating life; I bet he remembers it all as well
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lovely little picture – great composition and I love the shadows.
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Lovely illustration! Being a Mum is the best. Like Andrea, I found out this week that I’m the smallest is the family now (but being 5′ perhaps that was inevitable!!)
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I love this illustration! beautiful colors, the purple shadows are so nice! may I ask how this was drawn? straight from memory? photo reference?
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yes i think those long purple shadows are really nice too. this picture reminds me of a dream i had once.
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Keep drawing and dotting and digging deeper into your welltempered and inspiring word. Thanks.
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