Melissa Gilbert of 'Little House on the Prairie' Posts Tribute to 'Amazingly Talented' Son Michael
Melissa Gilbert shared a touching note on her second son, Michael Bruxleitner's 24th birthday, and it was nothing short of beautiful.
The 55-year old actress had no hard time letting the world know it was her son's birthday on October 6.
She took to Instagram to celebrate her son by sharing a series of photos showing his transition from infancy into adulthood.
Melissa Gilbert at the 34th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival - "Guest Artist" Photo Call. | Source: Getty Images
In the first picture, the "Miracle Worker" actress was seen lovingly bent over little Michael, who had a blue beanie cap on.
The second slide featured a smiling teenage Michael and younger-looking Melissa. They looked carefree and happy.
The last two slides showed adult Michael Bruxleitner, looking charming in gray sweats in one and a flowery shirt in the other.
The mother of two showed her fans how much the 24-year old meant to her with polished words in the accompanying caption. As seen in the post, Michael had arrived early, at 7-months, and his first year in the world had not been easy.
Describing him as an "amazingly talented, loving, compassionate, and funny man," she wrote about how much he had grown over the years.
Gilbert explained that Michael had followed his dreams by moving to New York, working hard, studying hard, and creating a life for himself.
She ended the birthday message with a mushy ending that read:
"When you were born, I said that you looked like a little bird that fell out of its nest. Well, now I get to watch you soar. I love you so much, my Peeker McSqueek. Have the best birthday ever! Xoxo, Ma"
The heartwarming post got thousands of likes in a few hours, and fans couldn't help but send in their congratulatory messages.
Michael Garret Boxleitner is Melissa's second son, whom she shared with her second husband, Brooke Boxleitner. She got divorced from him in 2011, Biography reports.
The "Little House on the Prairie" star was married to Bo Brinkman from 1988 to 1992. They had a son together before she married Boxleitner in 1995.
She got hitched to her present husband, Timothy Busfield, in a private ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, in 2013. They are living happily in New York.
As reported by Closer Weekly, Gilbert is taking a big step and returning to the theatre. After her hit role as Laura Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie" ended in 1983, Melissa struggled with her identity in Hollywood.
After strings of plastic surgery and failed marriages, Melissa left Hollywood to discover herself.
She has now returned and is carving a niche for herself in theatre in New York.