Dear Isaac, (a letter to my nine-year-old son)

Dear Isaac,

You turned nine a few weeks ago, and though you are still somewhat small among all the bigs, well, nine is kind of a large age for a little bear to be.

Your name is laughter, you are laughter, you are music and dancing. You love songs with big feelings, you are always clicking into my playlists to see what songs will inspire you next. You love yo-yo’s, ping pong, and your newest love, skateboarding.

I love hugging you so so much, and I love seeing you with your dad or any of your siblings, the hugs, the laughing, video calls with Kai. To grow up as the youngest, adored or sometimes tolerated, is interesting, because things change quickly and you have to change with them.

I’m not sure that a boy could love dogs more than you. Wookie sleeps with you every night. You do not love to draw or write. (Yet.) You do love anything that involves motion, math, or exploring. You don’t complain on long hikes. You love the water and swimming.

You are fierce about justice and equality. Everyone belongs to themselves, you mutter to yourself when you hear anything about slavery, whether it is through history or house elves. (You are firmly on Hermione’s side with SPEW.)

You’re a lot like your dad, you love the planets and the sky, beauty and big ideas. You do not like soft textured food or hearing metal on metal, and you are pretty intense about things like this. You are full of love.

I’m thankful for you son of my heart.

I love you,

Mama

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