Well, Buddy. You went and turned 10. We knew it was coming. YOU certainly knew it was coming. And we all seemed to feel the gravity of this milestone, double-digit birthday.
And today was the day.
10 years ago today, we officially started this whole parenting experiment. 9 years was “halfway” so what is 10? Over the proverbial, childhood hill?
To you, 10 is a big, fun deal. You picked out your annual birthday shirt and cake with a space theme this year, all the while jabbering on about how hard it would be to make a cake in the shape of the actual Saturn V rocket and if we put astronauts on the moon cake we could only have 2 — NOT 3 — because that’s how many astronauts walked on the moon in the Apollo missions and, “Mommy, do you think the people at the bakery know the difference between the Apollo missions and the Gemini missions and the Mercury missions?”
TEN. It sounds big and important, I agree. But even at the ripe old age of ten, you’re still not too old for our quiet birthday traditions. Birthday shirt – check! Family photo in the backyard – check! Fun cake, just big enough for three people – check! Reading Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Book at bedtime – check!
I am genuinely thrilled to see you grow up and thrive. You are curious, funny, stubborn, and tender. You love a good adventure and you still read everything you can get your hands on. In the past year, we’ve seen a little engineer emerging in you — though you also love history and storytelling and math. And if there’s a chance to get sweaty and dirty — you’re IN, whether it be on a ball field, a playground, a hiking trail, or just our front yard. You play SO HARD. It may be my favorite thing about you.
So Buddy, this is it. You’re officially 10. I hope the next year brings all the magic and adventure your little heart can stand.
Cry when it hurts, laugh when it’s funny
Chase after the dream, don’t chase after the money
And know we got each other, that’s what’s up
– Old Dominion
Happy birthday, favorite boy.
Love, Mama