Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Letter to ARNAV on his 6th BDAY!

My sweet small Dude~

Today I am the mother of a six year old.

I have no idea how this happened. No idea at all what it meant to love someone so much more than you ever thought possible. This year during spring break you got glasses and my heart was broken to pieces but you managed with it finely and look smarty...



You made me feel like the luckiest person on earth. To have such a beautiful and sweet baby boy to love and to watch grow.

They say “the days are long but the years are short” and that is never more true than when you look at your children certainly.

Buddy, I am so proud to be your mama. You are turning into an amazing boy, with this sparkling personality that makes your father and I so very happy.

It’s really difficult to put Love into words. Especially a Mother’s love for her son.  As much as I try to raise you my boy … you end up raising me as well.



I see my window of influence closing and before too long, it will be time for you to stand strong and make your own footprints in this world. I’ve been preparing myself for that moment since the first day you took your first steps ..i remember you fell down got up and again u tried.. It seems as if it was a symbol in our relationship. It was your first steps towards independence. But that mommy will always be there to catch you when you fall. I’ll never fail you in that promise.

My sweet, sweet 6 year old boy who has done now his Kindergarten. You’ve waiting all these years to ride the bus to Kindergarten and finally u have made it!. The fact that you are excited to wake up in the morning to go to school makes me think that you’re having the best time! You have rocked Kindergarten babe. I knew you would! It only gets better too. I promise.

You have taught me SO many things,Arnu..

I’ve witnessed your joy in every moment around you. Because of this joy … you attract friends wherever you go. I remember words of miss anderson who told me during meeting that, "Everyone loves Arnav. he is very social.He is a good friend to all." You are a loyal friend and quick to forgive. Stay this way and you’ll never be lonely.

You have taught me courage.

I love you so much, Arnu You are the son I always dreamed of having. It makes my heart happy to watch you find your voice and be a leader. This will serve you well in life.

God has blessed you with good looks, a good mind, an old soul, and a sweet heart. Keep going on your journey son. Continue to make your Daddy and me happy.

I am always in your corner,arnu. I’m the loudest cheerleader, the proudest mom, and the one who is always crying over how blessed she knows she is.

I’m the one giving myself an internal high five. I’m nostalgic. I’m just so dang proud to be your mother!

Now Arnu You’re so big and you need me less. When did that happen? Who said you could grow up and turn into such a handsome little dude? I’m not sure how I feel about this.

Son, time is moving too quickly. I haven’t bottled up your little quirks or your little mannerisms that I love so much. I don’t want to forget how you pause what you’re doing throughout the day to tell me you love me and I don’t want to forget that I’m your favorite play date. I take u to friends..You’ll take me playing Legos with you over anything. I wish I could bottle your smile and your innocence and have your small hands wrapped in my arms forever. I’m not ready for this.

Six is cool, don’t get me wrong, but it means that when Summer is over you’ll be in First Grade and I won’t have you like I do now. In a blink, we will be there. How can I pause time and fill my well with all these great memories?

I love to watch you grow and accomplish every milestone with ease, I also wish I could go back to those days where you fell asleep in your high chair. Those are the years I can’t get back. And in 6 more years I’m going to wish the same thing. Except I’ll wish you were 6 and I’ll  wish you still snuggled up to me during story time and begged for me to put you to bed at night. I’ll long to help you read sight words. I’ll wish I was still the girl of your dreams and that you would rather be with me instead of your friends.

Today I just want you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for that smile of yours and your fun personality. You light up my life and I’m so happy that you are who you are. It’s truly a wonder to watch you.

You were the first baby I ever carried in my womb. The baby who made me a mother. Who showed me my greatest passion in this life. And now? You are truly a big boy. All evidence of babyhood is long gone. Your little baby gut has disappeared and now you have little abs where that baby chubbiness once was. Your fat chunky fingers are now long, your hands beginning to lose that sweet baby softness. I can no longer shop for you in the toddler section of the store. You are wearing boxer briefs that I often confuse with Daddy's when I do the laundry. You make your own bed, completely dress yourself, and truly help with household chores. You are really big boy arnav!

I can’t believe how fast you’ve become such a smart, funny, sweet and special young man.

Sometimes you may drive me nuts with your silliness.

And I try as I might, I can’t answer all your in dept questions about how things work or why for everything..

Sometimes you get forgotten by me.. I might seem distracted with work, with cleaning or household chores. I might not listen to you as closely as I should or stop what I’m doing to pay attention to you fully.

I am really sorry for that.

But I want you to know that you matter a lot!

That our family wouldn’t be complete without you. That I wouldn’t be complete without you.

I’m so very proud of you. Of your thirst for knowledge. Of your endless need for answers and understanding.

I’m proud of your willingness to help me.

I love that you are nice to other kids and hate bullies.

You are my charmer.

My social butterfly.

Please don’t stop being yourself. Don’t let anyone change what makes you, YOU.

How have you gone from my little boy to a Kindergartener in the blink of an eye?

I’m emotional as I write this because I know that you will be able to read this all by yourself. That you won’t need me to help you with the words. How very grown up you seem.

I hope this makes you smile.

I’m so very lucky to be your mom. I know I tell you that often but it is because I mean it and I can never say it enough.

I am lucky, lucky, lucky to have you to love.

Happy Birthday!

This has been a big year of you. You just completed your Kindergarten and now u are doing great in summer school..above that you love it. Of course, your favorite activities are lunch and recess, but when I push you on what activity IN the classroom you like most, you tell me English.

Iam very proud to say that you can read now well. and I love to hear you sound out words. You want to know everything all at once and get quite frustrated when you get something wrong. It’s such a tough thing to learn and understand. Learning takes time and you have to be patient. You can’t be good at absolutely everything but I am quite sure you are going to try.

This year you loved playing soccer. These things bring you great joy

This year, our obsession with Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles gave way to Star Wars. and like your dad u enjoy watching movies..Recently u love watching movies under the stars and ur dad totally supports u for that.

You also did a great job at the pool over the summer this year...u certainly enjoyed thoroghly in soak city and water rides roller collasters at kings dominion and u wanted to visit it again and again..

Six seems so very big at times, but you are still my little boy. As grown up as you seem, I am so thankful that you still like to cuddle with me. Kisses are a no go but I steal them just the same.

Bedtime is my favorite. It’s the only time I can really get you to talk to me about your day, your life. I prod with questions and gulp up every drop of information you might give me.

You are happy, my sweet boy, and that makes me happy.

Your daddy and I love you so.

Happy birthday, my Wonderbug! You make my life joyful.

Six years ago u were brought into this world on the very same day

You have brought us nothing but pure joy since that very first moment.

Watching you grow, absorbing the world around you, inquisitive and delighted to learn, I’m reminded each day of the treasure you bring into my world.

As all mothers do, I have goals, dreams and wishes for you. I have, as you can imagine, dozens of them, but on this 6th anniversary of that laughing moment, I will limit myself to the six I wish for most.

1.I wish for the kind heart I see you in now to stay firmly in place.  Keep it, nurture it, handle it with care.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you are too sensitive.

The best part of my day is the joy infused by your smile, your hugs, and kisses I couldn’t live without your affection and kindness.

2.Don’t ever apologize for who you are, for what you want, for how hard you have worked or where you are going in life. I don’t doubt you will work hard, but I can already see signs that you are quick to apologize, to back down. Don’t. You have learned this from me and I wish I could take it back.  Stand your ground, be proud of you.  Do not live to make others happy or to measure up to someone else’s expectations.  Be ARNAV.  This is enough.

3.Be a student.  Be a teacher.  Learn at every opportunity.  Read. Be inquisitive. Ask. And when you know something and know it well – teach others.  Do not hoard your knowledge, your gifts – share them.  There is inherent beauty in being both student and teacher.  It is a gift to learn and a privilege to teach.

4.I wish you wins and losses, trophies and empty shelves.  As much as I would love to see you succeed in everything you do… as much as I believe in your gifts, I must wish you challenges.  For it is within the losses, the 3rd, 4th and 5th places, and the failures that your character will be built. It is my job, as your mom, to do my best to guide you through these moments. If everything was to be easy for you, you would be ill-prepared for the ‘real’ world.  I promise you, life is not always easy.

5.Your dreams: do them.  Your heart: follow it.  Your family: treasure them. Your friends: be loyal to them. Your fears: embrace them and allow them to make you stronger.  The money you earn: respect it. Your passion: LIVE IT.

6.Seek joy.  Every single day, find something that makes you happy and do it.  Be it big or small – an act of kindness, listening to a song you love, calling a friend, watching TV with your dad  – it quite simply doesn’t matter.  What matters is that you spend a portion of each day smiling and laughing.  This is how you came in to the world, it is only fitting that keep the tradition going.

And my ‘one to grow on’ – I wish to be here for each of your moments…. to keep you on track.

Arnav, you are what bliss looks like in a little boy.  You are messy, you snuggle and love me. I really adore and melt when you say, “I need your hugs and kisses, Mommy”. into your bed at night in order to sleep.

And nothing gets to me more than hearing you say, “I love you, my Mommy”. Thank you, sweet, small dude – for completing our family.

I will always love you, my buddy....

with more love than I could ever express…
Your mommy.