Birthday Letters: Five

Dear Satchel,

Today marks your 5th earth-ride 'round the sun. You are officially a big boy! This past year has been one of great changes...

You began reading and writing. Oh what a joy it is to receive your notes and lists. How I cherish them.

You are learning to ride a two-wheeler! How fast you do ride!

The last trace of your little boy lingo, YOOK, has grown into LOOK.

Your legs are long, you can now tap me on the shoulder and I can hardly lift you.

You have picked out your big boy bed. Although you are not quite ready to make the transition from co-sleeping, I know that day is coming soon. We're ready, but not in a rush. I will welcome the milestone, yet I will miss hearing you laugh in your sleep.

Ever loyal, you continue to love the things you love: the color red, insects, digging, and creating all manner of things. You love climbing, swinging and especially the hammock.

You have begun contemplating the future and considered becoming an astronaut when you grow up, but changed your mind after asking, "How long do they stay in space on a mission?". You explained that you don't want to be away from your family that long. You have made it clear, repeatedly, that you wish to be a father. You want to be home with your family and added, "maybe a farmer...a farmer LIVES on the farm!"

You have many wishes and your father and I aim to see them come true: you wish to take a walk in a desert, you wish to see a volcano...

At five, you are intelligent, articulate, witty and wise. You stand firm in your beliefs and speak your mind. You are a truth seeker and take issue with those who do not walk their talk. As you can imagine, this quality has rendered a few awkward situations, particularly from grown-ups who aren't open to the teachings of children. While you are still learning the fine art of such delicate discourse, I believe that your courage to speak your truth will serve you well in the years to come.

This year we discovered more about the way you navigate your world and how you experience things more intensely than others do. We're all learning new skills to help you travel your path more smoothly.

You have a ravenous curiosity and sense of wonder. You marvel over every detail, mystery and beauty the earth offers you. The light in your eyes and the expression on your face when you are engaged in your experience is truly breathtaking.

There are no words to convey how thankful I am that you are my son. May you always feel the depth of my love and the expanse of my gratitude as we sail this lifetime together.

Happy Birthday!

All my love,
Mama

"The boy held the boat by a string and every so often let go. But the little toy boat always came back. It knew just where it wanted to be."

- Randall de Séve (Toy Boat)


*Photo: Satchel's birthday gift by Willowbaus

(automated to post at the time of your birth)