Dear Barrett,
Happy 5th Birthday! I cannot believe it has been 5 years since the day you were born and I held you in my arms for the first time. You are officially a kid now, not a toddler or a little boy, a KID. But you’ll always be my baby and you’ll never be too big for me to hold you in my arms.
On your fifth birthday I want to tell you how proud I am of you and how happy it makes me to be your mommy. I want to tell you that I am always available for a hug or a conversation or a game. I also want to tell you about all the things you do that make me laugh and smile and brighten my day. I want to tell you about the interests and activities you love right now and how much you have blessed our lives.
You are passionate, independent, helpful, inquisitive, and smart. Some days I find myself wondering where you pick up the things you say and do because you seem so mature. One of my favorite things you say right now is “Yeah bebe!” when you are excited about something—makes me laugh every time! In the car, you always know where we are and where we’re going. Your sense of direction is amazing. I could consult you instead of the GPS. And when the plan for the day is set, you like to pipe up with “Hey, I have an idea! Let’s…” You might be millionaire by the time you graduate high school because you are always finding money and doing helpful things around the house, like putting away laundry, to earn a little extra. If we didn’t live on such a quiet street, you’d probably have a lemonade stand every day! Your piggy bank is SO heavy! You have spending money as well as money for your college fund and money to donate. Also, you really understand that sometimes it’s better to save up for something good than spend on something cheap. I am amazed at how responsible you are and how you are able to keep up with your belongings even the small ones. In fact, you reminded me to get my sunglasses before we got in the car today.
This year you played T-ball for the first time. You hit the ball with such gusto every time. With all of your concentration and determination on your face, you reminded me of a picture we have of Daddy playing T-ball at your age. You learned about what it means to be part of a team and work together. You are motivated by healthy competition, but you know that having fun and doing your best is more important than winning. You have chosen to play soccer in the fall this year and I am looking forward to watching you find joy and pride in that endeavor. This year, Daddy ceremoniously passed down his Lego collection to you and Kyle. The two (or I should say 3 including Daddy) of you have so much fun creating and building. You play for hours, and when a masterpiece breaks or you have trouble, you are learning to persevere. As a favorite coach, who liked to quote Thomas Edison, always said, “Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.”
Speaking of inspiration, let’s talk about how into superheroes you are right now. You just had an awesome superhero birthday party with capes and masks and flying and exhibition of muscles. You probably look up to superheroes because they are strong but also gentle, because they are honorable and protect the weak. Because they are courageous yet vulnerable. And because they lead by inspiration. Superheroes come in all forms and some have no capes and no muscle definition at all! Parents, teachers, brothers, sisters, children, ministers, (some) presidents, neighbors, friends, literary characters and more can all be heroes. Okay, you have to choose your heroes wisely. Stay around good people who do good things. The people you can always count on to lead you to good things, and those who do good for people other than you or themselves. Look for the good parts in everyone you know but surround yourself with those you truly trust. You may not realize it, but you are a superhero to me, Daddy, Kyle, and Annabelle. Tonight, when Daddy was doing yard work and getting very hot, you came to his rescue with a big cup of cold water without him even asking. You were Daddy’s hero tonight and always. Annabelle and Kyle think you’re a superhero too. They learn so much from you and you are a good example for them in so many ways.
The most important thing I want to tell you on your fifth birthday is that you are loved and admired and always will be. You bring joy to everyone you meet, and those who know you are truly blessed. Daddy and I are so lucky to be your parents…and not because you bring us water and remind us to bring our sunglasses, but because you are YOU.
I love you more than words can express.
Love,
Mommy
Here's a picture of Barrett on his 2nd birthday
And here's his "birthday" picture this year on his 5th birthday. (I take a picture of them every year first thing in the morning on their birthday)
