I’m 10 Years Younger Every Year in My Son’s Birthday Cards...

※『息子からの誕生日カードでは、毎年10歳若い私…』https://note.com/kaigai_333/n/nbf4423fba350
の英語バージョンです。（私自身の英語学習も兼ねて、英語で読みたい方向けに。）

Hello. I’m a mother in my 50s living in California.

In our family, we have an annual "birthday card incident."

My 13-year-old son seems to absolutely refuse to accept my real age, so every year he writes an age that is 10 years younger than I actually am on my birthday card.

When I received that card for the first time, I laughed and said, "Hey, you got the number wrong."

But my son said with a straight face, "No, I didn't."

The next year, and the year after that, the number on the card remained firmly 10 years younger.

It seems that in my son's mind, he wants his mom to stay "around this age."

Still innocent at 13

Speaking of 13-year-olds, they are right in the middle of puberty.
Some kids around us look like it’s a hassle just to talk to their parents.

However, our son is quite immature for his age—what you might call a "late bloomer."

Writing my age 10 years younger is probably just an expression of that innocence.

Although it makes me a little worried sometimes, every time I receive this card, it makes me realize, "Ah, he really does want a young and energetic mom." It kind of keeps me on my toes. lol

Trying to get a little closer to the "10-years-younger me"

To be honest, there are more days now when I look in the mirror and feel my age.
Fine lines around my eyes, dry skin, and how easily fatigue shows on my face.

Even so, when I see the number on that card, it makes me think, "Alright, I need to try a little harder."

It's not about buying expensive skincare products.
It's about carefully using what suits me every day. Sleeping well and laughing a lot.

The "10-years-younger me" that my son writes about has become a little goal of mine.

In Conclusion

I suppose the day will come when my son writes my real age on the card.
When that time comes, will I feel relieved, or a little lonely?
Until then, I want to cherish the "10-years-younger me" that arrives every year.

Do your children have any mysterious little quirks like this?
Let me know in the comments if you'd like.

Thank you for reading to the end.


【今日の英語表現】
・with a straight face: 真顔で、笑わずに
（言い換え: seriously / without smiling）
例文: He told a ridiculous joke with a straight face, so I wasn't sure if I should laugh.
（彼は真顔でとんでもない冗談を言ったので、笑っていいのか分かりませんでした。）

・late bloomer: 晩熟な人、遅咲きの人
（言い換え: late developer / someone who matures later）
例文: Don't worry if he isn't reading yet; many children are late bloomers.
（まだ本が読めなくても心配しないでください。多くの子供は晩熟ですから。）

・keep someone on their toes: （人に）気を引き締めさせる、よい緊張感を持たせる
（言い換え: keep someone alert / keep someone sharp）
例文: Working with such talented young people really keeps me on my toes.
（こんなに優秀な若者たちと一緒に働くことは、本当に私の気を引き締めさせてくれます。）

・show on one's face: （疲れや感情などが）顔に出る
（言い換え: be visible on one's face / reveal one's feelings）
例文: She didn't say she was disappointed, but it clearly showed on her face.
（彼女はがっかりしたとは言いませんでしたが、明らかに顔に出ていました。）

・quirk: （人の）ちょっと変わった癖、不思議なこだわり
（言い換え: peculiar habit / unique trait）
例文: One of his funny quirks is that he always has to eat the green M&Ms first.
（彼のちょっと面白いこだわりの一つは、いつも緑色のM&M'sを最初に食べなければならないことです。）