Dear Son, Don't Ever Stop...

Dear Son,

Don't ever stop giving hugs.  They are the best and you are so good at them.  You give the melty kind with arms flopped and head resting on our shoulder, smothering us with joy and trusting us with your little heart.

Don't ever stop saying I love you, or "Ah luh ye" as is the norm now.  I swear you say this like...fifteen bajillion times a day...including hollering it through the dark and the closed door right after we leave your room at night.  Sometimes it's the first thing we hear from your room in the morning.  When you grow up, you might think it's not manly to say I love you fifteen bajillion times a day or holler it through a closed door but, it's one of the best things a man can do.

Don't ever stop dancing.  Because your dancing is absolutely rad, dude.  Sometimes you look like you're doing the robot, sometimes you look like you're doing my former youth minister's old man dance, sometimes you are rockin' out and fist pumping in your car seat, complete with head banging.  Dance through life, sweet boy.

Don't ever stop asking questions.  I love to watch your curious mind look at things and I don't tire of you asking "wha dat?", also about fifteen bajillion times a day.  If you want to know something, always ask.  We will be here to provide as many answers as we can for as long as we can.

Don't ever stop asking for help.  It's always better to stretch out your hand at the top of a steep stair and say "Hup, mama, hup" than to bite off more than you can chew and end up face planting on the cement and chipping your teeth (oh wait, you did that the other day).  Don't be afraid to ask for help.  It's not a sign of weakness.  It's a sign of knowing what you need in order to succeed.  I am more than happy to take that sweet hand of yours and guide you.

Don't ever stop being peaceful.   Ok, let's face it.  Your sister can be a little bully sometimes.  But when she's pulling on your hair or bothering you, I'm so proud of you for not retaliating.  You could hit her.  You could fight back.  But you don't.  You get mad, but you just tell her "No, no" and holler for me to come rescue you.  Keep that peaceful response, for the world could use a few more peacemakers.

I marvel daily at your sweet little soul and can't believe we have been so blessed to have you in our life.

Luh ye,

Mama