If You Could Relive One Year, Which Year Would It Be?

And would your answer be different if it were your child asking?

Photo taken by the author’s husband

Children ask such interesting questions.

For example, the other day, my son asked me, “If you could relive one year, which year would it be?” It’s one of those questions you’d expect would take a while to think of a good response, but I had one ready. It boils down to when I was happiest. For me, the answer is easy.

It was the year my son was born — more specifically, while I was pregnant. And that’s what I told him, not realising the feelings and additional questions my reply would evoke.

Put myself in his shoes, and I would be a little sad to discover that of all the years my mother could relive, she chose one before I was born. It implies regret, and that I’m less happy since I became a mother.

My instant and honest answer was out there, and I couldn’t take it back. But instead of panic, words of reassurance came easily. It goes back to the answer to another question my children have asked me:

Why did you want to be a Mummy?

For a long time, my husband and I thought we would never have children. After seven years of trying to start a family, the most incredible and magical thing happened. Our first baby, our son, came into our lives. It was the year my dream came true.

And as for why my husband and I wanted to start a family? My life wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t have children.

My kids make me want to be a better person, to strive to be the best version of myself: tolerant, forgiving, patient, calm, kind, strong and brave.

This story’s feature photo was taken during a holiday to America in the year I would relive if I could. My shades are hanging off my neckline, just like they always did when I took them off on sunny days. This habit would change after having kids. I’ve lost count of how many sunglasses I’ve dropped and lost while bending down to pick up my son as a baby and toddler. I even had a pair fall into a toilet bowl once.

My son is in the photo, but however hard he looks, he wouldn’t spot himself.

I tell my son he was inside my tummy while my husband and I travelled to Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego for our babymoon. I love how my son lists those cities as places he’s been to whenever anyone asks him whether he’s been to America.

And if he or his sister needs further reassurance about my choice of the happiest year I would relive, I’d tell them I’ve yet to live my best year.

I have that to come.

More from me:

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