Monday, April 1, 2013

A letter to my firstborn

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Dear R,

You’re five today! It seems like only yesterday that you were peeing all over your dad every time he tried to change your diaper. From the moment that we met, I knew that being your mom would be a wild ride. You decided to make your appearance a week past your predicted due date and arrive on April Fool’s Day. Do you know what people say when you call to tell them that your one-week-overdue baby was born on April Fool’s Day? No way! I knew even then that you would have a unique sense of humor.

You must have really enjoyed our company because you woke every 2-3 hours for most of the first 9 months of your life. You were rarely unhappy, just hungry and ready to play. The baby sleep books (and I’ve read them all) said that I shouldn’t “engage” you when you woke in the middle of the night, but how to resist that toothless grin at 3 in the morning? Until you were born, I didn’t believe in love at first sight.

As a toddler, you were unusually in tune with other people’s emotions. One morning at daycare, another child stood at the door crying at drop off, and I saw your tiny two-year-old hand reach out to pat him on the back. I have loved that about you ever since.

You have learned and changed so much this past year, and have transformed from preschooler into full-fledged “kid,” as you refer to yourself. You know how to write your letters and their sounds, have started to read short words, and can do some addition and subtraction problems. You mastered riding a bike without training wheels, moved up to the next level of swimming lessons, and started taking showers instead of baths. You broke into t-ball and basketball, and now understand which goal you need to run toward during a soccer game. Many times you have amazed us by doing things we didn’t even know you could do.

You’ve made new friends over the past year. It makes me happy to see you building relationships outside of our family, but I also realize that means that our house isn’t the center of your universe anymore. You will go to school soon, and meet more new and interesting people with ideas and thoughts that are different from anything that Dad or I have taught you. I hope you will remember the things that our family values, even when we can’t be right there with you.

-Show care and kindness to all living things. Remember that you have a lot of people who love you and help you along the path you are on. Keep in mind that not everyone has those people in their lives. Be that person for someone who needs it.
-Live your life with integrity, even if it means you won’t be the richest guy on the block. Remember that wealth is measured in many ways, not just by the stuff you have or the amount of money you make.
-Protect your health. It’s the greatest gift you’ve been given, so treat your body like you would treat a brand-new car. Take it in for regular tune-ups, and put good fuel in it. Wear your seat belt and bicycle helmet.
-Value education. It’s the only thing that can never be taken away from you. Having a wide base of knowledge makes life fuller and richer and opens many more doors to you in the future.
-Know that you can come to Dad and me with anything, and we will listen and help you figure out what to do.


Thank you for making me a mother. And remember that you’re never too old to be your momma’s baby.

I love you Little-Big Man!

Mom

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