Today you turn 10. And while every birthday is worth celebrating, this one is particularly poignant.
For 10 whole years, I've held you, fed you, hugged you, entertained you, laughed with you, cleaned you and cleaned up after you, answered your questions, dried your tears, high-fived your achievements. I've spent hours fretting, researching, discussing and wondering about how you're progressing socially, cognitively, biologically, emotionally and academically.
I'm often telling you to quieten down, slow down, clean up, hurry up. I may nag, I may yell, I may sigh with frustration. I discipline and punish. I lay down tough rules. And yes, I make you empty the dishwasher, pick up your stinky socks, turn off your device, do your homework, eat your vegetables, flush the toilet and play nicely with your sister.
Because this is all part of the contract I made with my heart when I became a parent. Its design, other than to protect my sanity, is to show you the path to becoming a good person. Because I consider that job number one.
But mostly, throughout this past decade, I've admired you. You amaze and inspire me, and here's why:
- You are high on life. You are always 100% in the moment (even if that moment only last 60 seconds before you are on to the next moment!) You grab each day with gusto and joy, extract from it as much delight as you possibly can. May your lust for life and joy always be with you and rub off on the people around you so they can light up the room like you do.
You are creative. Your inquisitive and imaginative mind, sharp, curious eye and lithe fingers compel you to express yourself through detailed sketches, funny doodles, paintings, sculptures and oh-so-many, fantastic origamis. There's no doubt you have an innate talent. I hope you continue to explore and challenge your art because when everything is grey and dull, your creativity will bring color and energy. You are a book worm, a reading ninja. You surround yourself with all kinds of books from Captain Underpants to National Geographic. Almost every evening, as I tiptoe into your room to kiss you goodnight, I have to first peel from your cheeks the pages of the book you were reading as you fell asleep. Please don't ever stop reading. It will feed your brain, your imagination and your sense of adventure. You are sensitive. Grandma always said you have an "old soul." This past year you've dealt with some tough stuff -- your beloved dog died and you were in a frightening car crash. You cried, you hurt. You were scared. But you worked through it all with more maturity that I ever imagined a 9-year-old could. I'm sorry that sad and scary stuff happens. I wish I could protect you from it all but it's part and parcel of life and I'm proud that you are sensitive and brave enough to show your emotions. Because it's always OK to feel all your feelings. Except the cold. Please put on a coat when it's cold. You love animals and nature. You cried when we had some trees removed because you were worried the birds would lose their homes. If there's a moth or spider in the house, I want to crush them, but you insist on saving and releasing them outside. You want to pet every dog you meet. Maybe you were a golden retriever in another life. It would explain a lot! You make friends with ease. You are so personable and easy to know. With kids and adults alike, you interact with confidence. I hope to continue to pick -- and be -- the best friend. Because we need friends, in good times and bad. You are generous (you get this from your father.) Just last week, you spontaneously made an origami for the waitress at a restaurant. This past weekend, you told me you'd saved enough money to buy your sister a Christmas gift. Generosity is so important; it keeps you ever mindful of the needs of others. But remember, generosity is not just about things: it's about being generous with your time, your attention, your skills. And it demands no reciprocity. It just is. You are funny. I always say you'll be the next Conan O'Brien. Your teachers think you are hoot. But please remember there's a time and a place for your hi-jinx! You have an amazing metabolism. The sheer volume of food you can consume in a sitting is crazy yet your body remains lithe and lean. You enjoy being active and understand what comprises a balanced diet -- even if you have the wickedest sweet tooth. Just keep everything in moderation and keep moving. You love your family. Grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles and especially your cousins. You are always so sad when it's time to leave them. Remember family is everything: your roots, your anchor.I can't believe how time has flown and I'm so excited for the next ten years. OK that's not entirely true. I'm terrified of the puberty years. Of hormones. Of teenage temptations. Of you learning to drive! But I'm also confident that you have the building blocks to show you the way.
Happy birthday son, I love you.
And don't forget to wear a coat when it's cold please.
And turn off your bedroom light.
And no, you can't have a third slice of birthday cake.
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