Today Is Not Just a Birthday: Celebrating Five Years of Love, Strength, and Resilience as James Turns 5

Today is not just a birthday.
Today, I celebrate five years of love, strength, and resilience.

James turns 5 today.

Five years of genuine smiles, tight hugs, and a courage he doesn’t yet realize he carries inside him. Five years of watching a little boy grow while teaching me, every single day, what strength truly looks like.

Just the Two of Us

Since his father passed away, it has been just the two of us—facing life side by side. There are no easy words for that kind of loss, especially when it arrives so early in a child’s life.

It hasn’t always been easy.
There are quiet nights filled with unanswered questions.
Moments when my heart feels heavier than I ever imagined it could.
Days when exhaustion creeps in and I wonder how I’ll keep going.

But somehow, we do.

Finding Light in the Smallest Moments

Between the hard moments are unexpected laughs. Small acts of love. A bond so deep it’s difficult to put into words. Being James’s mother has shown me that love doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be present.

Being a single mother wasn’t a choice. It was a responsibility life placed in my hands. And every day, I try to be strong for him, even when I feel tired and overwhelmed.

Because when he smiles, everything feels worth it.

What Today Really Means

Today isn’t about presents or candles on a cake. It’s about reminding a little boy that he is deeply loved. That he is seen. That he is never alone.

A simple birthday wish. A kind word. A moment of affection. These things can mean the world to a child and stay with them far longer than any gift.

My Wish for James

James is my whole world.
And today, all I wish is for him to feel surrounded by love—near and far. To know that even on the days when life feels heavy, love will always be stronger.

Happy 5th Birthday, my sweet boy.
You are loved more than you’ll ever know. 🎂🤍