As a parent, you know your kids will grow up and you know there will be a birthday every year where you reflect back on that little baby. Sometimes it comes and goes easily. Sometimes it smacks you in the face.
You are six. SIX. It is a smack in the face kind of birthday. Five is still a little kid, but six feels like big kid territory. I'm not sure I'm ready for you to be a big kid.
Freddie, you are such a special kid. I am so lucky to be your mom. We are all so lucky that you burst on the scene. You bring such love and laughter to our every day lives. I'm not sure what we would do without you.
You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. And when I say anyone, I mean anyone - kids, grown ups, girls, boys. You love so unconditionally and so completely. I love how much you love with abandon. You get your heart broken regularly. Little things can just crush you, but you still love. Still dive face first into love. This is my favorite thing about you. You are so open to love, that you never consider getting hurt. I hope you stay this way forever. It is such an amazing and rare quality.
And you are funny. You make people laugh to a fault. I know this because I've already had the first parent-teacher conference regarding my "class-clown." I asked you why you were making up words to a school song, and why you were shaking your naked belly at your classmates, and why you were dancing during quiet time. You had a very simple answer, "I just wanted to be funny and make everyone laugh." Of course you did.
You are super smart. I love to watch that big brain of yours work as you roll a problem or question around and around until an idea or inquiry comes out of your mouth.
You talk endlessly. I remember having friends who's second child talked later or barely spoke, because they had this big brother or sister that did so much talking. Well, you have that big sister, but you could never be out-talked. Every day, you skip off the bus, jump into my arms and start. And you go and go and go. Telling me stories, asking me questions. Sometimes the stories are funny, sometimes they are about things you learned, sometimes they are things that hurt you. Always something new.
I hope that your heart always stays so open and young. I hope that this world doesn't crush you. I hope you always share everything you are feeling. I hope you always love with such passion. I hope you always tell me your joys and your sorrows. I'll always listen.
Happy birthday Fredders! Don't get too big, too fast.
Love,
Mommy
