“My son is my favorite wrinkle.”
I know that might sound unusual. Most of the time, wrinkles are treated as something to cover up, erase, or deny. But to me, wrinkles are not flaws – they are stories. They are the marks life leaves behind to remind us of where we’ve been, who we’ve loved, and how we’ve grown.
My favorite wrinkle has been shaped over the last 15 years of guiding my son. From his very first cry to the young man he is becoming today, his journey has left invisible lines of joy, challenge, and growth etched into me. And just as he has left his imprint on me, I know I have left mine on him too. Our lives are folded together, leaving traces that will last long after these years are gone.
Wrinkles of Joy, Laughter and Love
Motherhood gave me some of the brightest moments of my life.
I can still picture his little hands reaching for mine, the sparkle in his eyes when he discovered something new, and the belly laughs that seemed to fill entire rooms. Those moments softened the lines of worry with curves of laughter.
These are what I call wrinkles of joy. They’re not visible in the mirror in the same way a laugh line is, but they are felt in the spirit. Each giggle, each hug, each milestone adds another layer to the story of my life.
And just as his joy shaped me, I hope the love and security I offered shaped him too – gentle marks he will carry into adulthood.
Wrinkles of Struggle – Lessons That Shaped Us
But to be truthful, it wasn’t only joy. Raising him also meant facing challenges that pushed me further than I thought I could go in my motherhood journey. Sleepless nights spent soothing a crying baby. Endless worries about whether I was doing enough. The balancing act of being a mother, a partner, a worker, and still finding space for myself.
There were days when I doubted myself. Days when frustration etched sharper lines into my face. Days when the exhaustion felt like it would never end. These were not easy wrinkles to carry. But they were real, and they shaped me.
Guiding him through school, friendships, and the difficult stages of adolescence required patience I didn’t always think I had. Discipline and honesty sometimes made me the “unpopular” parent, but they carved resilience into us both.
My words, my stumbles, and my recoveries all left their marks. Some I hope he remembers as guidance, others as reminders that his mother was human, learning as she went.
Growth Through the Years – Lessons We Taught Each Other
What strikes me most, looking back, is how much he shaped me while I was shaping him. I thought I was the teacher, but I became the student too.
- He taught me patience when I thought I had none left.
- He taught me resilience when I wanted to give up.
- He taught me how to see the world with wonder again, through a child’s eyes.
Each stage of his life brought a new lesson. As a baby, he taught me unconditional love. As a child, he taught me presence – to stop rushing and just be with him. As a teenager, at 15, he teaches me humility and trust. Humility, because I cannot control everything; I can only guide. Trust, because I must believe in his choices, his strength, and the young man he is becoming.
Every one of those lessons is a wrinkle. Not something to erase, but a signature on the story of my life. And at the same time, I see the marks I’ve left in him: the rhythms of routine, the weight of my expectations, the warmth of my encouragement, and the security of my love.
Wrinkles as Legacy – Stories Written on Our Skin
The older I get, the more I realize: wrinkles are not just about skin. They are about legacy.
Every parent, every caregiver, every loved one carries wrinkles born from the people they’ve poured themselves into. They are the visible and invisible traces of love, energy, sacrifice, and commitment. They are proof that we showed up, even when it was hard.
Just as my son has etched his lessons into me – teaching me patience, resilience, and wonder – I know I am leaving mine on him. My love, my laughter, my discipline, my mistakes, and even my silences leave their own marks. Some gentle, some deep.
I hope the wrinkles I leave are not scars of fear or pressure, but folds of strength, kindness, and self-belief. I hope that when he looks back years from now, he’ll see my guidance not as heavy lines but as soft reminders of being loved, encouraged, and challenged to grow.
Conclusion – Choosing Wrinkles That Matter
“My son is my favorite wrinkle.” Not only because of the joy he has given me since his first days, but because of the challenges and lessons of these 15 years that shaped us both. Raising him has been the hardest and the most beautiful journey of my life. And I carry that story proudly, etched into me like lines of poetry.
But I also know this: just as he has carved wrinkles into me, I am carving mine into him. Every word, every choice, every embrace and every silence leaves its own mark. I hope his wrinkles will hold joy more than worry, resilience more than fear, and love more than doubt.
In the end, wrinkles are not just signs of aging gracefully – they are our legacy. They are the traces we exchange with one another in the quiet, ordinary moments that make up a life.
So I want to invite you to pause for a moment and ask yourself:
👉 What’s your favorite wrinkle?
Is it a laugh line you wouldn’t trade for the world? A scar that reminds you of resilience? A crease from years of smiling with someone you love? Or maybe it’s the invisible marks you’ve left on someone else’s heart.
Whatever it is, honor it. Share it. Let it be a reminder that life has marked you — not as flawed, but as beautifully alive.
Because in the end, the question isn’t whether we’ll have wrinkles. The question is: which wrinkles will we choose, and which wrinkles will we leave behind?
