To My Oldest On Your Seventeenth Birthday

Here we are at seventeen. We almost made it! The last year has been challenging as you/we navigated unfamiliar territory and experienced a whole lotta firsts! First girlfriend, first friend breakup and fight, first heartbreak, first all-nighter, first partying, first driving experiences, first accident, first not great grades, and soooo much more. Months ago you told me junior year of high school wasn't your favorite and it was making your head spin. Mine too, kid.

Yet, that's life. There's good and bad, mistakes, and things that happen beyond your control. It's been really hard to sit back and watch you make mistakes, but I know in the end they have made you a better person. I truly hope you have learned from them and put that knowledge to use in the future. I have done more hand holding, figuratively not literally (I feel you would die of embarrassment if it were) than I did when you were learning to walk. I can easily say year sixteen was a big year of growth for both of us - you as a teen and myself as a parent.

You are strong, opinionated, and voice when you see injustices. I am beyond proud of how you have stood up for the things you believe in and help those who can't help themselves. That has always been one of your most amazing qualities. I hope you never lose it and only use it for good.

Our family dynamic changed a lot this year, as you preferred to work, sleep, and spend time with friends/girlfriends than hang out with the fam. I appreciate the change of priorities and loved seeing you create a life of your own. You continued to thrive in theatre, taking on a lead role in the fall play, Almost, Maine and auditioning for the spring musical. You got out of your comfort zone and nailed your numerous costume changes in your ensemble role in Annie. Despite being in a drawing and painting class, you took a step back from your painting. Instead, you focused on writing and going on long walks late in the day. You also turned into a night owl somewhere in the last year and it's not unusual to find me (a reformed night owl) in bed well before you're even thinking about it.

Some of your favorite things include: Dr. Pepper, sushi, cooking, playing video games, playing games in general, long walks after dark, going out with friends, art, laying in bed, your ear buds, thrifting, movies (especially scary movies), working, and being at home (when you're not out with friends, at school, or working). You appreciate alone time and taking time to recharge. Your hair got longer and curlier and fluffier. At 6'4 we joke that you're a giant, but really you simply stand out in the crowd. 

Thank you for being our first. Even in the tough times or when I don't know what to do, you make it easy. You give me grace and as a mom, I can't thank you enough for that. I have so many wishes for you as you embark on your last year of high school, but instead I'll go with gratitude for letting me have a front row seat to your life. Continue to think big, grow, adventure, and learn every day. I love you always and forever!

Love,

Mom

To My Middle Son On Your 15th Birthday

 

Holy moly! Fifteen!!!! That seems really weird to say. Some days you seem VERY fifteen and then other days, I feel like you're still in middle school. Time is tricky like that. But here we are, number fifteen and it's a special one - recital day fell on your big day. Time got the best of me the last week and I'm writing your birthday letter over a week past due. Somehow you haven't called me out on it yet. 

My favorite thing from your last year is when you told me during one of our late night chats that you didn't want to get a job this summer because you wanted "just one more summer with my daycare friends." And I couldn't possibly deny the request. So, here we are with another summer of kid sharing and I like to think it's off to a strong start with sleepovers, Adventureland, swimming, the lake, and picnic lunches. I love that you wanted one more summer to be a kid. Not that I'm surprised. Your best friend in life is called FUN and you always want to be having it.

Your favorite things include: ramen, friends, having fun, laughing, late night talks on the couch, sleepovers, dance, more dance, reels, Athena, sleeping in, laying in your bed, and more dance. You had the most amazing first year of high school. You didn't get involved much in school activities, but you made friends, went to Homecoming, improved all of your grades, and continued to advocate for yourself. We're always immensely proud of you, but we were beyond impressed how you handled the high school transition and all of life's changes.

My hope for you in your next trip around the sun is that you learn to harness your voice and use it to help others. You are inherently good and see the good in other's; your voice, wisdom, thoughts, and ideas are vast. You can do so much when you put your mind to it. You are a natural born leader, only doing what you truly want to and easily identifying the injustices in the world. I want you to put all of that to use, now more than ever. 

The older you get, the more I see myself in you. I love watching you discover yourself more and more and what you want from life. I love the fierce passion you hold for life, discovery, and happiness. I love nothing more than having a front row seat to all of this. 

Much like every year, I need to end your letter with a thank you. Thank you for challenging me and making me into the person I am today. Thank you for being different and being so YOU each and every day. Here's to another year of late night chats, giggling, and holding my hand. I love you so much!

Love always and forever,

Mom

To My Daughter On Your 13th Birthday,

 

T H I R T E E N!!! Welcome to the teen years. I'm not really sure why everyone makes such a huge deal about the teen years - I promise, they're not awful. They're the important and impressionable years where you discover yourself, make mistakes, change, grow, learn hard lessons, and grow some more. It's an experience and one I'm excited for you to go through.

This past year was a big one for you. You tried new things, navigated friendships, relationships, and let go of things you didn't like. You completed 7th grade on Thursday and had a stellar school year. Unsurprisingly, you nailed health and sex ed class. I'm quite proud of your wealth of knowledge on the subject, including your awareness for mental health. You are highly in tune with your emotional and mental health and you're not afraid to let us know. I love that so much!

You still LOVE dance and started in Junior Performing Arts, doing dances in jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical. Your commitment to it is impressive and leaves me in awe each and every year. While dance continues to be your main extracurricular focus, you have a long list of accomplishments from this past year. You gave Mock Trial a try and loved it. You committed to showing up for every practice and rehearsal, dressing the part, and your team made it all the way to round 2. You did such a great job learning the case and the ins and outs of law practice. You made it through your first boy drama with ease. You also made a point to stay away from middle school drama. You have your preferred friends and don't mess around with anyone who isn't kind to you. You don't question your worth and that's a rarity for a middle schooler. You grew your kitchen skills in cooking class. Sometimes I'm taken aback when you offer to make the muffins or baked goods or dinner by yourself. It seems like you should still require a brother's help in the kitchen, when in reality, you often follow recipes better than I do! With Max off working and hanging out with friends more often than not, you have become the official dog walker when we hike, but you still refuse to pick up his poop.

Some of your favorite things include: spending time in your room, painting or other relaxing things, reels, Tik Toks, Friends, Ginny and Georgia, Instagram (you finally got your own account!), Mexican food, your daycare friends and our new daycare summers, CBS News, Adventureland, staying up late, sleeping in, skin care, hair care, clothes, and shopping. Your dislikes include: hiking (it's a whole thing right now), the ocean (you recently told me we can't go to the ocean this year because you can't swim in it, "there's too many things swimming in it. I like pools," parents asking questions, too many people, too many plans, mom being "too loud," and having to do "everything" around the house. 

Oh how we love your over aggerated ways! There's never a dull moment with you around. You have some classic one liners and even after thirteen years, I'm still trying to figure out how your mind works. I love your confidence and willingness to try to new things - even when you're scared. More often than not, I know you'll go along with most things if it means having a good time. That's a quality you've possessed since birth and it's one I hope you always keep. 

I wish nothing but the best for your next trip around the sun, as you undergo your last year of middle school (hooray - it's something we're both very excited about!). I love every part of you and so lucky I get to be along for your ride! I love you, I love you, I love you!! Thank you for making every day full of laughter and smiles.

Love always and forever,

Mom