Dear Max,
You are 9. Holy moly, NINE!!!! 9 years ago an amazing journey began: your journey into this world and through life. This has become my journey as well. Everything you do, is a first for me too. While there have been plenty of challenging moments, days, and weeks, with you, I find ourselves at the brink of new life changes: the pre-teen years. I'm slowly watching the little boy go away and in it's place, a large boy with new interests, feelings, and attitudes (and woah buddy! That attitude!).
This year has been interesting to say the least. You're interests now include movies that "are not cartoons," Twenty One Pilots, eating healthy because it's better for your body, advanced Lego sets, drawing and writing, shoes and hats, National Parks, and reading. You still LOVE the littles at daycare, who anxiously await your arrival each day after school. Your best friends are still Ronan and Wyatt and all of the daycare kids. You were the only one apprehensive about moving to a new house. You still use caution with anything new.
You're doing amazing in school and have a passion for learning new things. I love that passion you have for things. I'm nervous, excited, and sad that these will be your last two years at the elementary school. There's so much ahead in these next two years (and beyond)!
You are a pretty darn big brother. While I have to give constant warnings of "don't be so bossy!" you take care of your brother and (more so) sister. They love you more than you know. Whenever you're not around, they are a little lost without you. I hope they realize how lucky they are to have you as a brother. I sure know how lucky I am to have you as my helper! You never hesitate to jump in and help, whether it's helping with the daycare kids or helping with laundry or taking out the trash or playing a show for your siblings. You're an important part of a smooth sailing day around here!
Despite my nervousness and sadness about you growing up, I am looking forward to seeing where this next year will take you! Never let anyone stop your ideas (because you have a lot of them!). You do things that make you happy and don't care what others think. This is one of the many things I admire about you and one of the things I will continue to nurture so you will always have this.
I love you my buddy! Thanks for an amazing, life changing nine years!
Love,
Mom (no longer a sweet mom, but "Mooommm" said with a slight eye roll and so much attitude behind it)
You still like your sleep and require a lot of it, just as you did as a baby!