My Wee Bonnie Sean,
Today you are 11. And I am amazed. Eleven years have flown by and you have grown so much and learned so much in that time. And even though my learning curve wasn't quite as steep as your own, I have certainly learned some things in the time that I've been your mom. You've been a good teacher and I thought I'd share some of the knowledge I've gained since you brightened this world eleven years ago.
1. You can't count freckles. It's like trying to number the stars or count the sand on a beach.
2. Curly hair still needs to have some style to it. Even though I disagreed with you and insisted that you could just get it wet and thrash your hands about in your hair and it would look great, you insisted right back that if your hair couldn't be straight (And oh! How you have lamented your curly hair this last year!) you could get it cut in such a way that it had some pizazz. (My word, not yours.) And thus came what we have dubbed the "shark look", wherein you would use product and take the middle section of your hair and make a little shark fin mohawk. Style, my dude. You gots it.
3. Pro wrestling isn't just entertainment, it's serious business. And those wrestling toys you have? I have learned that they are NOT dolls. They are action figures. You taught me very quickly to get my vocabulary straight.
4. Laughter is good. Giggling is good. Laughing and giggling at inappropriate times is also sometimes good. And you, my son, have one of the best laughs I've ever heard. Thanks for bringing so much laughter into my life.
5. There is no such thing as too much lasagna. Okay, actually, I'm pretty sure this threshold could be crossed, but I've not yet seen you cross it.
6. Playing outside with a whole crew of friends is one of the best ways to spend a day. I sort of remember this one from when I was a kid, but you know, we grown ups tend to forget that kind of stuff sometimes. Thanks for reminding me.
7. Sometimes a little snuggle time makes everything better. I'm grateful you will still sit next to me and ask me to run my fingers though your curly hair and just be for a little while. This is something I forget as well, in my rush to move on to the next thing on my To Do list. Thanks for slowing me down.
9. Being a peacemaker isn't all that hard. Seriously, governments should pay for your services. You bridge the gaps between siblings, friends, classmates and you make it look easy. You have a gift. And by watching you, I'm learning.
11. Spontaneously holding someone's hand makes them feel needed and loved and wanted and beautiful. Thank you for continually surprising me by taking my hand and making my day.
Finally, my sweet boy, I have learned since your birth, that prayers are sometimes answered in ways that you cannot begin to imagine and that sometimes God gives you so much more than you ever believed possible, and certainly more than you ever deserved. I know this, because you are an answer to prayer and I am continually blessed by you.
Happy 11th birthday, Seannie!
Love,
Mom
P.S. You are my favorite Sean!
