Nothing seems to come around faster than a birthday. It feels like you just finish the whole getting older spectacle when you’re expected to do it over again.

Yesterday, I turned 30. Yes, 30. I know, I am one of those mums you point out at the mall with a neverending parade of young children. Of course, it doesn’t help that I have a baby face making me look more like I should have a reality TV crew documenting my every move.

It’s hard to feel excited about a milestone birthday when you’re sleep deprived and sick. This year feels like it aged me five years instead of one, and I literally woke up on my birthday with more gray hair.

I guess at 30 there’s the whole “what have I done with my life?!” inevitability as 30 seems so far from 20, but 40 feels like it could come tomorrow. So, besides the obvious accomplishment of three super cute kids and a handsome fella of a roommate, my life has been interesting for sure.

I have both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, in addition to an Addictions Worker Diploma. I have worked as a social worker going on 12 (!) years. I have lived in Toronto, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and Chicago, then back to Toronto again. I’ve been to Paris twice, England, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Ireland in addition to other parts of North America. I have made amazing friends, and though I only have a small group of them, I love them dearly. I have loved and I have unloved. I have lost friends and family suddenly, and occasionally, violently. I have presented and written both for work and for pleasure. I have laughed and cried, and laughed some more.

Yes, I’m a Mama, but I’m also Alyssa, a woman with hopes and goals beyond the ones for my children (PhD anyone?). I intend to continue to lead an adventure-filled life, even if said adventure is taking all three kids out to eat on my own.

So, here’s to more gray hair (ick) followed by more hair dye, and to the adventures we’re sure to have.