To BB On His 8th Birthday
by Jenners • 09/24/2012 • BB/The Little One, Life • 62 Comments
Dear BB,
Happy Birthday!!! Although my tummy still hurts from your birthday dinner at Friendlys (and I, once again, couldn’t resist the Forbidden Fudge Brownie Sundae), I wanted to take time to look back on the last year and tell you how amazing and wonderful you are.
One of the biggest things that has changed since last year is that your sense of humor is coming out in full force. Besides beginning to master the fine art of sarcasm, you are also demonstrating a quick wit that amuses me to no end. This morning when you told that me wanted your breakfast “to go” (so you could eat it on your monkey tray while watching TV), I had to chuckle. You’re just full of witticisms and silliness (although you still don’t know how to quit when you’re ahead), and I’m enjoying seeing this more sophisticated side of you. (Of course, you still think that anything dealing with poop or pee is the FUNNIEST THING EVER. It isn’t. I know Daddy laughs but that is because he is emotionally immature.)
Seeing you blossom socially has also warmed my heart. You’ve come into your own, and seeing you shed much of the shyness that held you back before makes me happy. The fact that kids ring the doorbell day and night to see if you can play shows me that you are a good friend and fun to be with. Of course, you still need to work on controlling that temper of yours when things don’t quite go your way, but you’re getting more mature every day. And the fact that I don’t have to tell you 1,365,353 times to clean up and come in for dinner is a big relief and it makes me feel more kindly toward you.
You’re also doing great in school, and that makes both Daddy and I proud. Although we knew you would probably be a smart kid (after all, look at your genes … HAHA!), you made us extra proud by qualifying for the Talented and Gifted program on your test scores alone. WOW! This is a great opportunity for you to take on new challenges and I’m thrilled for you.
As far as soccer … well, let’s not go there. You’re in a Bad News Bears situation there, and all Daddy and I hope is that you have fun and at least look like you want to be playing.
It has been fun seeing you pursue karate this year. Since I can’t quite remember (let alone master) the 19 steps of Chon Ji, I’m impressed that you can. But you do need to work on that shoulder roll! I’m convinced you aren’t doing it right.
I’m really proud to be your mom and, after some bumps in the road this summer behavior-wise, I feel like we are on a good path. Your behavior lately has been really improved, and I hope you see how much more relaxed I am since I don’t have to tell you to do something over and over and over and resort to yelling. See … it IS easier to just do it when I ask and get it over with!!! (And wasn’t I right that a kid your age doesn’t need a phone? I TOLD YOU SO!) I had to laugh today when the mom of one of your new friends told me her daughter told her that you were “really nice” and “not a behavior problem.” It made me proud to hear that about you.
So keep up the good work! Life is about having fun but also working hard and doing your best. It seems that you are beginning to figure that out, and I know that you can have the world on a platter if you apply all your talents and use the good things you have going for you.
Love,
Mom
P.S. You need to stop resisting us on the frequency of baths and showers though! When you can see the outline of your socks because of all the dirt around your ankles, that isn’t a good thing.
P.P.S. I’m hoping your birthday party on Saturday is going to be fun. Just pray for sun. If I must have 11 kids in the house, I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.
P.P.P.S. It was really impressive when you correctly guessed “Venice” when we were playing Pictionary the other day.
P.P.P.P.S. The fact that you chose to finish reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane rather than watch TV the other day made me super duper happy. If I raise you to be a reader, I’ll consider my job as a parent well done.
Better than TV!
What a wonderful tribute to your son and I know he will love reading these letters when he is older!
I hope he does read my blog when he is older. Of course, there are some posts I’d rather he skipped.
This is an amzing mother moment. When mom took time to tellme how much she loved me and how she saw me, it transformed me. I vbecame her vision in some ways (Not so much or the exact opposite in other) but it guided me in exactly the way I could genuinely respond to. That is the blessing of: A MOTHER’S LOVE … it is pure, unfiltered, nourishing, life-sustaining one of a kind wonder that made you feel real special and lucky to be alive!
Awww…what a lovely comment. I hope BB reads this at some point and feels the same way.
Loved your letter and so very jealous of your 60 comments
You have to half the comments. It counts my replies too!!!
So damn sweet. Such a good mom and I love reading the challenges ahead for me
You’ve got a good kid!
Parenting gets more and more interesting as you go along I’ve found.
What a beautiful letter. Happy birthday to BB! The Girl loved Edward Tulane…she couldn’t put it down!
I just read Edward Tulane after BB got so excited about it and I loved it. I’m going to check out more of her books for him ( and me).
As usual, I am late to the party but I hope he had a great day!
He had a great day … and we’re hoping the birthday party tomorrow goes well too.
Happy (belated) birthday to your wonderful boy! I have to nag to get mine into the shower too! Even if he smells like old goat…
I guess it is boy thing. And he hasn’t started to “smell” like teen boy yet but I dread that already.
Aww…8 years old! Wow, time sure flies fast, huh? Happy belated birthday to BB!
Time does fly … it amazes me that he is 8. Seems like just yesterday he was a little toddler. I see why people say to cherish those years.
Well looky here I missed this post too. Happy birthday to BB! It is absolutely NO SHOCK to me that he has a great sense of humor. You have to rub off on him seriously.
He is turning out a lot like his father too … who has a very quick wit and is fast with the “insults.” So that isn’t necessarily good for me!
Wonderful letter, Jenners. BB is a lucky boy to have such a great mom! Give him time and you will be yelling at him to get out of the shower before there’s no hot water left. Happy B’day to BB!
I look forward to having no hot water if that means he will be clean!
Happy Birthday BB!! Hope there’s lots of sunshine for your party!
You and me both! The forecast seems to be cloudy but minimal rain so I hope that holds.
Happy birthday to your special guy! So so awesome that he is doing better socially and behaviorally. I think 8 is going to be a good year (Lucas will be 8 on Oct 8th). So nice that he has lots of friends. Hope the party goes good
8 is seeming to bring a lot more maturity. I’m loving it so far!
Happy Birthday to the boy
And I think you are already a great parent.
Aw shucks. Thanks. I hope he thinks that too.
Happy Birthday to him!!
Great post! I hope the sun shines brightly on his birthday party.Time flies doesn’t it? Enjoy these years, I turned around and my son is 16. I swear I just gave birth to him.
I hear you. I’m sure I’ll be saying “happy 16″ in just a few minutes!! And pray for that sun!
Times is just going way too fast. I think it’s in his DNA to be a reader. He sounds like a wonderful young man.
I do hope he got my reader DNA and not his father’s non-reader DNA!
You’re raising a reader, I love it! Happy birthday to him!
I think I am. I’m crossing my fingers it sticks. We go through long periods of him not reading so I worry about it.
Happy Birthday to BB all the way from Wales!
We’ll have to look up Wales on his world map so he knows where you are!
Oh BB is getting to be such a big boy! I am impressed at all the changes he has made recently, and the fact that he is doing so well in school, and that he is very talented at reading makes me really smile. I would be so proud of him! You are doing a splendid job with him, Jenners. He sounds like a really friendly and outgoing little guy, and I bet that he will be as big a success as you predict. Happy Birthday BB!
He has really blossomed this year after a few years of struggling so it is making me feel calmer. I was edgy for a few years worrying about him socially. Parenting can be so stressful sometimes.
The dads ALWAYS laugh! It shows very much how you love him.
Happy Birthday to your son!
I’m suspecting that boys never outgrow the fart/poop/pee stage. Darn.
Such a very moving post, your pride shines through in your every word. Happy Birthday to BB.
I am feeling really proud of him lately. I’m glad that came through. He’s been exceptional lately and I’m feeling good about him after a few rough years.
ALREADY, when did that happen, he was just the little one, and now he’s 8. Well Happy Birthday B.B.
I know! I have to update my “about me” section with his new age for the fourth time.
Wow…has another year already flown by?
Sending all the best wishes to the birthday boy!!!
I know! Time feels like it is accelerating.
Forgot to mention: Poop and pee are ALWAYS funny. You just don’t have a sophisticated sense of humor.
I’m beginning to realize this might not be a phase he outgrows. Sigh.
Oh, your job as a parent is already well done!
As for the different color skin above and below the socks, I had that effect after a camping weekend when I was a kid and thought it was the coolest thing ever.
He thinks it is super cool too. Your gender is so weird!
Happy Birthday BB! I hope you have a great party!
Oh, and don’t worry – most boys always think that potty humor is funny, regardless of how old they are! A well-timed reference to farting can have my twelve-year-old son rolling on the floor laughing any night!
I’m suspecting this is the truth. What is up with those males!?
What is it with avoiding showers?! Happy birthday, BB! You sound like an awesome kid. Keep making your mom proud and listening to her because she’s a genius. She’ll steer you on the right path in life.
Oh I love you. I’m a genius everyone! Kristen M. said so!
Happy birthday to BB! What is it about 8-year-olds and baths? My Holly, also aged 8, would prefer to never take a bath or shower unless we force her to take one. Ewww…
And seriously, the poop and pee humor just never goes away for boys. You will get to add to it with words like testicles and scrotum. Watch the laughter then!
I’m sighing as you’re not the first to say this poop and pee humor never goes away. Just great!
Aw! Happy birthday to him! He does sound like a wonderful little boy, stinky feet and all.
I guess being stinky is acceptable if you’re great in other ways. Still, I’d like to have it all!!!
Happy Birthday to the BB. I loved the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane:)
I just read the Tulane book after BB got done with it and fell in love with it too. I want to read more of her stuff.
Happy birthday to BB! He sounds like a very smart and well-liked, wonderful boy. I loved The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane!
The Tulane book is awesome! I can see why he loved it.
Happy birthday to your little guy! How’d he get to be 8 already?
I don’t know. I turned around, blinked and he turned 8 somehow!