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