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This birthday hit hard.

I’ve always taken pride in not being fazed by milestone birthdays. With three older sisters who tackled their big years before me—30, 40, 50, and so on—this year should have been just another number. And honestly, it wasn’t a big deal… until the days leading up to it. Out of nowhere, I had a “holy crap, I’m turning 42” moment—like the 40 freakout, but two years later.

For the first time ever, I decided to take my birthday off. I dropped the kids at school, DoorDashed myself a bagel and coffee, and then enjoyed a nap with the dog. I spent some time watching TV (My Life With the Walter Boys on Netflix is incredibly charming), ordered myself lunch, and took Barkley out. After another nap and a relaxing bath, I picked up the boys from school and treated us all to pizza from a new Brooklyn pizza place nearby—definitely a hit with this New York girl. Of course, no birthday is complete without Carvel ice cream cake.

So, while this birthday didn’t feel like a major event, it was a gentle reminder of how important it is to just slow down. I started this blog because I was feeling drained, not just physically but mentally. Today was a much-needed pause—a true rest day where I just stopped. No regrets here. Sure, tomorrow might be a bit hectic as I catch up on what I missed, but it was absolutely worth it.

Featured image courtesy of DepositPhotos artist fayethequeen93.