Happy 13th Birthday Weston!
Weston turned 13 on March 3rd. I'm a little late, but no less sincere in welcoming my baby into his teens!
This kid continues to amaze and frustrate and infuriate and delight me. He can be the most aggravating person in the world and two seconds later be the most loving and sincere. He knows everything about everything and can turn a phrase like no one else. I know he thinks we are laughing at him when he says things a certain way, but really - we are just tickled by how he constructs a sentence with such eloquent choice of words. If we are ever stumped about a bit of fact or trivia, we can always count on Weston for the answer. Guaranteed. He suffers the oppressive rule of his older brother and the noisy aggravation of his younger siblings as much as an impatient, intolerant middle child can. In fact, I honestly think that in general he's annoyed by all of us most of the time, but I think that's because he truly is smarter than all of us put together. To paraphrase Corinthians, he definitely does not suffer fools gladly!
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Dear Weston,
It's hard to see you and your brother growing up so quickly. On one hand, I'm glad to see that I've managed to get you this far in life, but on the other, I'm sad that you are inching that much closer to adulthood.
We clash a lot these days. We have vastly differing opinions on what sorts of liberties your age affords you. I know that you view the addition of "teen" to the end of your age as the gateway to privileges and freedoms, but I see it as a yield sign that begs for patience and caution.
You are indeed growing up, I just fear that you are doing it too quickly. The world is a hard, heartless place sometimes and you will never, ever be as well insulated from its impurities as you are right now. Every fiber of my being wishes I could get you to believe that and appreciate it for the gift that it is. You see yourself as an almost-adult, but I still see you as a sum of your parts - all of your ages combined. Even though you are deep voice and shadowed mustache, lanky arms and lean torso, no matter how grown or old or aged you become I will always see you as my baby, my toddler, my little boy-- a rapid-succession flip book of ages, all with the attendant hopes and dreams I have ever had for you along the way. I cannot separate who you are now from who you have been in the past and I never will. You can go to college, marry, have you own children, hold a job, fight in a war....and still, you will remain my precious baby boy.
You cannot feel it. but I can. You cannot see it. but I do. Time flies. It races. It zooms with barrier breaking speed. You will never again be as young or as free or as uncomplicated as you are right at this moment. I'm trying to let you go inch by inch...but do me a small favor and let yourself be young - if not forever - for a little big longer.
I love you, kid.
OXOXO
Mom
Weston turns 10
Weston turns 11
Weston turns 12
This kid continues to amaze and frustrate and infuriate and delight me. He can be the most aggravating person in the world and two seconds later be the most loving and sincere. He knows everything about everything and can turn a phrase like no one else. I know he thinks we are laughing at him when he says things a certain way, but really - we are just tickled by how he constructs a sentence with such eloquent choice of words. If we are ever stumped about a bit of fact or trivia, we can always count on Weston for the answer. Guaranteed. He suffers the oppressive rule of his older brother and the noisy aggravation of his younger siblings as much as an impatient, intolerant middle child can. In fact, I honestly think that in general he's annoyed by all of us most of the time, but I think that's because he truly is smarter than all of us put together. To paraphrase Corinthians, he definitely does not suffer fools gladly!
*********************************************************
Dear Weston,
It's hard to see you and your brother growing up so quickly. On one hand, I'm glad to see that I've managed to get you this far in life, but on the other, I'm sad that you are inching that much closer to adulthood.
We clash a lot these days. We have vastly differing opinions on what sorts of liberties your age affords you. I know that you view the addition of "teen" to the end of your age as the gateway to privileges and freedoms, but I see it as a yield sign that begs for patience and caution.
You are indeed growing up, I just fear that you are doing it too quickly. The world is a hard, heartless place sometimes and you will never, ever be as well insulated from its impurities as you are right now. Every fiber of my being wishes I could get you to believe that and appreciate it for the gift that it is. You see yourself as an almost-adult, but I still see you as a sum of your parts - all of your ages combined. Even though you are deep voice and shadowed mustache, lanky arms and lean torso, no matter how grown or old or aged you become I will always see you as my baby, my toddler, my little boy-- a rapid-succession flip book of ages, all with the attendant hopes and dreams I have ever had for you along the way. I cannot separate who you are now from who you have been in the past and I never will. You can go to college, marry, have you own children, hold a job, fight in a war....and still, you will remain my precious baby boy.
You cannot feel it. but I can. You cannot see it. but I do. Time flies. It races. It zooms with barrier breaking speed. You will never again be as young or as free or as uncomplicated as you are right at this moment. I'm trying to let you go inch by inch...but do me a small favor and let yourself be young - if not forever - for a little big longer.
I love you, kid.
OXOXO
Mom
Weston turns 10
Weston turns 11
Weston turns 12