What a heck of a ride it’s been so far. You are the most particular of our kids with your own peculiarities that seem… I don’t know… we’ve always referred to you as an 80 year old, even from birth. You are the youngest curmudgeon we have ever met and so self-confident, so sure of yourself that we don’t worry about you at all.
This last year for Kindergarten you went right in and tackled virtually every academic challenge. You started reading almost suddenly and on your own. You are smart and pick up on things very quickly. Perhaps dangerously so.
Sometimes you seem so old, and then there are things that remind us how young you really are. Still afraid of going to a movie theater, that’s your youth. Being totally secure and comfortable with it, that’s something beyond your years.
It’s an awkward age. Your favorite television program is still Octonauts, which airs on Disney Junior, but you are also discovering all these other programs for older kids. You want to participate in those conversations with your siblings and friends, and you do. Straddling that gap between age groups can be difficult when there are so many differences, but you walk that line well.
It can be difficult living in the shadow of your older siblings as well as not getting the attention for being one of the younger ones. You are making your own mark and forging your own path.
The last 2 years for your birthday we’ve been out of town on vacation, ant it’s not fair. Each of your siblings get the birthday party they want with friends and you’ve been stuck having your parents scramble to find something fun for you. Next year we’re going to try and get our vacation moved to earlier in the summer so you can have a more normal birthday. Heck it’s been a couple of weeks past your birthday as it is and I still haven’t posted this.
But you take all of this in stride. Your feelings are hurt but you keep moving forward.
While we worry about you, we aren’t worried about you. It may not make sense now, it will one day. I can’t wait to see what the coming year brings.