Dear Benjamin,
Today is your 9th birthday! Nine. It feels important and big. Just shy of double digits. I can hardly believe it! Seriously. I look at your face when you’re talking to me sometimes and I tear up. I just can’t believe how wonderful and beautiful you are. How lucky I am to be your mother. How brilliant and funny and loving you are. Nine years of you. I hardly remember what my life was like without you, and that’s the truth. You’ve changed and challenged me in ways I never dreamed of. You’ve helped me to live with more intention. You’ve given me more of a purpose.
Benjamin, you are such a special kid. When I meet faculty from your school and they learn who my child is, their faces light up. “Benjamin! Oh I love him. He’s such a great kid.” My heart swells with pride for who you are becoming. When you share what you’re learning in school, you walk me through your entire day in order so you don’t forget anything. I love this attention to detail and I don’t take for granted that I won’t always be gifted this precious insight to your life. Thank you for sharing with me.
A letter to you about yourself wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share your current interests to look back on. So, here goes. You love video games, and almost exclusively play Minecraft and Fortnite, although you like to dabble in other games here and there. You enjoy playing outside and this year we’ve started allowing you to go off on your own with friends in the neighborhood. That’s been hard for me but important for you! You don’t really watch t.v. on your own but you love to watch it as a family. We like cooking and home improvement shows. Your favorite cartoon for the last couple of years is Troll Hunters, and you watch through the seasons on repeat, by increment of just a few minutes every morning before school. You think I’m an incredible cook (I have no idea why because I’m honestly not) and your favorite meal I make is “special” chicken and herb & butter rice. This year you chose a birthday dinner at the Bonefish Grill over a birthday party.
I love you with my whole heart,
Mama
P.S. Here are more letters to Benjamin from over the years.
