28 Days of Grateful: 29 Years
29 Years: An Intimate Birthday Interview with My Leo Mother
Reflecting on 29 Years of Life
29 years ago, I was born into this world during a new moon phase, under a Leo sun and a Leo moon. I feel extremely blessed and honestly humbled to make it to 29 years. This birthday feels different from the rest; it feels tranquil and reflective. I didn’t want to do too much this year but just enjoy the company of loved ones and enjoy being here, on this earth. This birthday, I can ruminate on my last year of my 20s, be grateful for what I have done, appreciate the people in my life, and look forward to where I have yet to go.
Every year as my birthday nears, I ask my mom to tell me the story of my birth. I have a crazy birth story that I am proud of, and it reminds me that I have been resilient since birth. I was born two weeks late, and my mom jokes that “I would rather die than be a Cancer” because I held on until it was Leo season, baby! When I think of my birthday, I am also very proud of my mother, who was only 21 years old at the time, having her first child. She was strong and unyielding, and she would have risked her own life to save mine had things gone south that day.
This year, I decided to do a birthday interview with the one person who truly knows me, knows my heart, gave me life, watched me grow, and is the reason I am celebrating my birthday today—my mom. My mom is also a Leo sun and Leo mercury, like me. I like to say I get my loud voice from her. If you know me, you know that my mother is very much an important person in my life. She was a stay-at-home mother who taught me the value of education and knowing my worth at a very young age. She is the reason I love literature and writing, the reason I cannot settle in relationships or in life.
I am so grateful for my mother, for the sacrifices she has made for her children, and for raising me the way she did. She is a strong woman that I respect, and I hope to be even half the caring and supportive mom that she is. So, shoutout to my mother for giving me life, taking care of my life, showing me the good life, and always encouraging me to strive for the life of my dreams. I would not be here today without her.
I am very grateful for this life that I’ve been blessed with, for the people that I can call friends, for the family I’ve been born into, and for the best 29 years a girl could ask for. Here is to much more life, wins, and joy!
Please enjoy the interview.
An Interview (About me) with My Leo Mother
Describe me in 3 words: Loud, fun-spirited, loving.
What were your thoughts and feelings when you found out you were having a daughter? I was excited to have a little girl. I really couldn’t wait to put cute clothes on her.
Please tell us your brief experience birthing me. Looking back, you were an emergency C-section. I remember how quickly they moved from signing all the paperwork to the operating table—it was less than 10 minutes. The C-section itself had to have moved quickly as you were in distress; your heart rate was dropping to the low 40s.
How was my birth (a bit) traumatic? I didn’t realize how dangerous the situation was until after. I was told that you had pooped in the sac, and there was only 1 tablespoon of fluid in the sac with you. Your umbilical cord was on top of your head. Had I had a natural birth, it would have more than likely wrapped around your neck and could have been fatal. You were two weeks late. Because it was my first child, they felt it was safe to wait this long to see if I would go naturally.
How did you come up with my name? As soon as I knew I was having a girl, we knew what your name would be. I am Jeanette Jeané; that’s why they call me JJ. My middle name is Jeané, so I knew my first daughter would be Jeané, after me. Dad chose Kalati as your middle name, after his grandma. You guys had to have my last name because even after we got married, I never took his last name. He never asked me or discussed with me to take his name. So, your last name is Rivera Tuitavuki. Dad just didn’t want it hyphenated because, at the time, a majority of people were doing that. So, you guys have a long last name.
As a fellow Leo, what similarities do you see between yourself and your Leo daughter (me)? We are both loud, both fierce, both loyal, both opinionated, strong-willed and minded, determined, and sensitive.
In what ways do I embody the characteristics of a Leo woman? You’re fierce, strong-minded, people gravitate towards you, you’re well-liked, loyal, and carry yourself with high regard.
How has she grown and evolved over the years, especially as she approaches 29? Jeané has gotten her degree, so she has educated herself. She’s knowledgeable about the medicinal aspects of marijuana. She’s studied astrology and is knowledgeable about astrological signs. She’s grown intellectually and has become someone I can talk with and confide in. She has grown to know what she wants in life and relationships and doesn’t settle for less than she deserves.
What advice do you have for mothers raising daughters/girls? Raise fierce daughters. Instill self-worth. Emphasize the importance of education and gaining as much knowledge as you can. Don’t rely on anyone to take care of all your needs. Be self-reliant.
What is one piece of wisdom you hope she carries with her as she turns 29? That she is loved beyond measure (by her mom). She is a child of God.
