Thursday, August 8, 2013

Dearest Big Kid,

Today you are 10. A whole decade! A real big kid (instead of a tongue-in-cheek reference to your birth order) which is astounding because I still very clearly recall every detail of the tightly wrapped, big-eyed bundle that was handed to me 10 years ago today. I remember thinking, "He is important. I better not get this wrong," and I have had some variation of that thought every single day since. For 10 whole years!

Although I joke about canceling your birthday and refusing to acknowledge 10, I will also admit to being eager to see what your future holds. That's the thing about parenting--you want to know what will happen next but soon figure out how quickly next comes. As each new layer of you is revealed, I marvel at what a cool person you are and how knowledgeable you are about the things that interest you. You are witty and clever and smart and kind. You have tremendous empathy for others and I often believe your true genius is emotional giftedness--this is not something I expect you to understand at 10 but I hope reading back on this some day you still recognize that sweetness in yourself. You have an ability to understand far beyond your young years and I wish more of the world was like that. I hope you find this to be a blessing and not a curse in your future, because it is a gift to those around you. I am so proud of your soul, despite knowing without a doubt that you came that way.

Now when I gaze at you and hear that voice reminding me that you are important and I had better get it right, I can answer back with a quiet confidence that so far we seem to be doing okay because you are an incredible person.

I cherish the last 10 years and look forward to the next.


Happy Birthday, Big Kid!
But you'll always be my baby.

I like you, I love you, and I will always protect you,
Mom

5 comments:

Maggie said...

Double digits!! Happy, happy day Big Kid, I hope you have the best year yet!!!

and I agree about not being old enough for a 5th grader.....just yesterday I was crying on the way to preschool and now I am going to have to hold in the crying so as to not embarrass my now middle-schooler...wasn't I just in middle school a few years ago??? wah!!! xo

Christina in Hong Kong said...

Wow, a whole decade indeed! And, to think Big Kid was only 6 years old when I stumbled upon your blog a few years ago.

Happy Birthday, Big Kid! Hope you have a fab day with alllll your loved ones!

Also, Ashley, well done on the KICK-ASS job you are doing as a mother. Looks to me that Big Kid is well on his way to becoming a fine young man. And we all know the world could do with more of such people.

Take care,
Christina in Hong Kong

PS: Last night, my boyfriend and I were referred to as "DINK"(s) by an Aussie friend that we had dinner with. Apparently it stands for "Double Income No Kids" in Kangarooville! It was really funny to have our lives summed by a simple, yet oh so appropriate, acronym.

Anyway, I thought I'd share that snippet with you just to give you a general idea as to what my life is like. It's only fair since, you know, I've read so much about your and your family already. :)

Renee said...

Happy birthday, BK!!!

Vikki said...

You're doing it right, Ashley! Happy birthday, Big Kid!

Renee said...

I love these letters. Have you written one every year?