To My Birthday Boy

 An Ollie Tale

Where to begin? Ah, yes.  Concerning Ollie...

Ollie's are happy, jolly and love to eat.  You prefer to be held, comfortable and cozy, rather than run off and have adventures.

Thus making you a hobbit of sorts...

You are NINE years old. Even though you came out a forty year old man. So serious and thoughtful and discerning.

You’re heavy into video games and figuring out how to win, be the best, figure it out. You get frustrated a lot and are learning how to manage that.

You like your therapist, Summer. You play lots of crazy games with her. I’m so glad you have another grown up in your life to relate to, talk to, trust and help you with tools on how to handle big feelings. Normalizing therapy is so important. You’ll have such a head start on those of us who didn’t learn it was a necessary tool as adults.

Your class with Ms. Alldredge is a great one. You’re a genius. You sass her and you get along really well. Such a small class at only 17 kids. You get along so great with them all! Hayward and Irene are your most talked about friends. I love how much you are liked and said hi to. Over 30 kids are coming to your party. It’s nuts.

You are an amazing inspiration to so many. You are able to express your feelings so clearly you have to dumb it down for others. You are so self aware and able to self regulate. I’m in constant awe. Even when you’re tapped and have nothing else in your tank, you can tell us. You step away. You take a deep breath. It’s amazing to see. I wish you didn’t have to do it so often, but I’m glad you know how.

We road tripped to Uncle Cody’s house last summer. We had a house with a pool which you LIVED IN any time mom and dad weren’t force feeding you Mexican food. We’re going to San fransciso this summer and then to Lompoc so we can do it all over again. I cannot wait.

We had to say good bye to Indy this year. It’s hard to believe it’s only been since November that he’s been gone. You were so sad and stoic and supportive of everyone in the house. Sometimes we have to remind you that you don’t have to put your feelings aside to care about everyone else. You care so deeply and want to fix everything for everyone.

But sadness gives way to new joy. We have Mabel and Jasper now. You have a hard time holding sadness in one hand and joy in the other, but we’re learning. You love them so much and I am so glad because you were the one we were worried about not wanting to engage with them. But you are so in love with Mabel and you like Jasper. 

You, dear boy, had the first sleepover that wasn’t with family this year with Hayward. You rocked it. Of course you did. You went to Defy, and dinner  and then sleepover and we didn’t come get you in the night!

You still love to eat, little hobbit. You enjoyed a cruise to Alaska and all it’s good all the times. You liked the views and the company but boy did we eat.

One thing Ben has been really leaning into this year is letting you boys just be kids. I hope you get a full summer of popsicles and sleeping in and video games and riding bikes and just being a kid because you are a great one.

I can't wait to see what adventures we all get into in the years to come. Complete with second breakfast, elevensies and the other four meals when we can get them.

It's been an incredible year, I’d do all over in a heartbeat, there and back again, for sure.  Thanks for choosing me to be your mom.

All my love,
Your mama

To My Birthday Boy

Oh sweet boy. What a wonderful, hilarious, joyful, exceedingly blissful year it’s been. What do you think of your life so far? It’s hard to believe that, eleven years ago today, I was just going in for one of your last checkups only to find out that you’d be joining us in the world a few short whirlwind hours later. 

Can’t believe you’re 11. Every year I write your new age I feel like it’s wrong. There’s no way you’re so old. This one feels like such a departure from young childhood. Sometimes I look at you now and see who you'll look like as a teen. It's crazy how fast and slow you're growing up.

You are such a kind boy. So passionate and funny and cheerful. You make everyone around you smile. I was delighted at your birthday party at Peak Gymnastics by how kind and considerate and caring every child was. The people you have chosen to surround yourself with are truly an incredible example of what is going to change the world.

You’re figuring out this human thing better than many fully grown humans I know. You get frustrated and annoyed and mad and still  I see you trying. Every single day, I see you putting in effort. I am so proud of you s d I hope you are too. 

Last year you said was the hardest year of your life. In putting Floyd down in March and then Indy in November, what a hard year for everyone. You were so sweet with Indy and felt your feelings so purely. You still do. I’m so glad you feel safe and loved to use your words and your voice. I’m so honored to hold you through these moments in life. 

The arrival of Mabel and Jasper have made you so happy. There are tears most days of joy and sadness. Memories of Indy and Floyd in the watching of our new dogs. It’s hard. It’s good.

You wanted peach pie and chicken noodle soup for your birthday dinner. You were so considerate in planning you party - making sure those kids with allergies were still able to participate. Your consideration of people is insistent and I love it.

You are loved. You are safe. You are amazing. I am so proud of the human you are and the one you're growing into. You're headed to middle school next year, boy are we excited and nervous. So much energy and wondering how things are going to go. You have so many friends and I hope you'll all help each other through the weird new-ness.

I cannot wait to see what this next year brings. 

I think you’re a great, cool kid and the best son a mom could ask for. Stay kind, stay curious, stay little and stay kind, even when the world seems against you, work to change it. Tuck on in next to me and tell me about your games or your newest story your writing. You're my most favorite Felix in the whole world. I know I say it each year, but seriously, best year of my life.  

All my love, 
Your mama