Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Mijo,

Another year has passed, and we have just finished sampling your fifth birthday cake. It is incredible how time flies by when you’re not looking.

Here is what I see when I look at you now. You have grown taller and stronger. You have grown to look even more like me, but in a good way. You have the most beautiful eyes that express all of your feelings. You are excelling in preschool and in your speech therapy. You have many friends in your class, which I noticed yesterday as we did your little party at school. And yes, I know you want your friends to come over, but you’re going to have to prod me along because you know how shy I get around other parents. I’m sure you’ll get me to do it, though. I know you want people over, and I’ll do my best to make that happen. But I digress…

I see that you are helpful to your teachers and to your classmates, and do not hesitate to stick up for your friends. You are not shy about talking to our neighbors and to the maintenance guys, even if you act a bit silly at times. You always try to do your best, even though you often get distracted by the little things in life. It is rather fascinating to watch when you are getting dressed and just sort of drift off into space because you’re looking outside or you’re thinking up some fantastical new project with Legos. I realized that you get this from me, because I found myself staring out the window today when I should have been putting on my socks.

For all the lovely things that you are, you are also only human (and only five), so you have a few things that we need to work on. Like the game thing. Winning isn’t everything, my love, and I desperately want to break you of that “winning is awesome and you suck if you lose” habit that you developed. With that also comes the “sore loser” aspect, and I hope to God that this is all just a phase of your age. I’m pretty sure it is. And yes, I know you’re awesome at Uno and can easily kick mine and Daddy’s asses.

Then there are the times that you get a slight attitude, and I realize that you are JUST. LIKE. ME. I remember being a hellion and trying Grandma and Grandpa’s patience, and I can see the same fire inside you and the same need for rebellion. It fascinates me and makes me nervous. I guess Karma does exist and I will be paid back in spades for the follies of my younger years when you become a smartassed teenager similar to what I was.

Despite these minor human faults, you are still my best buddy and I love you to pieces. I love the fact that I can take you ANYWHERE, and you don’t act up. I love the fact that you give the side-eye to kids that do act like snots in public and that you have no qualms about announcing loudly how badly they are acting. I love the fact that you sing along to Michael Jackson songs and try to dance like him. I love that you have a vivid imagination and that you can almost read and that you have memorized your favorite books to “read” to me. I love the fact that you are still in tune to my moods and can cheer me up with a silly smile or a rambling story. Most of all, I love the fact that you are you, and totally unique in every way (except the whole attitude thing).

Mijo, you are my world, and no matter what happens:

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
As long as I’m living,
My baby you’ll be.”*

Love,
Mommy

*taken from “I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert N. Munsch