Dear Sweet Boy,
It’s finally happening. For most it’s just another birthday, but for me you are turning double digits. You’ll be double digits for the rest of your life. We’ve known each other a decade now. A WHOLE DECADE. Let’s take a look back over the past 10 years.
On the day you were born…
Your arrival was unexpected and about 5 weeks early. Doctors couldn’t keep my blood pressure down and that only meant that you needed to step onto the scene a tad earlier than we’d anticipated. Not to worry. You were perfect. You, my sweet boy, made me a mom. And for that I am eternally grateful. Although we didn’t get to bring you home for another 15 days, we visited you daily and stayed so many long hours at the hospital to hold you, feed you, and love on you.
We brought you home and started life as a family of three. Looking back on the last 10 years with you, as cliche as it sounds, I wonder: where did the time go?
10 Lessons I’ve Learned from You
- How to live and seek fun everywhere, all the time
- How to not take myself too seriously
- How to stop and notice small, seemingly insignificant moments that end up being truly meaningful ones
- How strong willed a child can truly be
- How to love selflessly and without fear
- How to just chill out sometimes
- How to look past perfection
- How to understand that there are many ways to look at situations
- How to look for the best hide-and-seek spots
- How to hug and kiss on a nine year old, knowing that tomorrow he’ll be 10 and never be nine again
Looking ahead to what is next
As you embark on the coming teenage years, I want you to know how important it is to stay true to yourself. Do the right thing even if it means you’re the only one doing it. Never sacrifice who you are to please anyone else. You are a child of the most high God and that means His plan for you is greater than anything you or I could ever imagine. There’s only one of you in this whole world and you have a gift to bring that no one else does.
I want you to know that you are loved more than you could ever imagine. Yes, even when I take away screen time or a trip to the Dollar Tree. So much will be changing from this moment on. I ask you to be gracious with your dad and me as we maneuver this parenthood path together. We will be experiencing many firsts with you. We may not always have the answers right away, but we will find them for you. As you grow in maturity, independence, and stature, I want you to know that you will always be that sweet 5 pound, 6 ounce baby boy I once held in the hospital on that August 30th night. I will always be your #1 fan and cheerleader. You are loved, my sweet boy.
Welcome to the double digits.
With all my LOVE,
Mommy
