Welcome to official middle child status. Your birthday letter is a week late. When you are ready to have your own children, should definitely consider the end of the school year, (you), the height of hurricane season, (your sister) or the beginning of the school year, (again your sister). Really, when I get around to writing that ‘How Not to Space Your Children’ book, it’s gonna be a winner.
Continuing in family tradition, your birthday stretched the week. On Monday, (your actual birthday) I checked you out of school early. We then had family over for cake and ice cream in the evening. You requested cookie cake instead of my usual cup cakes for the family party. (We’ll talk about that later.) The rest of the week consisted of half schools days and parties as the year wrapped up.
On Thursday, we had the ‘friend’ party, which consisted of friends from school at laser tag. I gotta tell you, that was the easiest birthday I’ve ever done. They even provided pizza and the cake. You all seemed to have a really great time. Even your father who managed to make a little kid cry. We are all so proud.
Friday morning a I had a few clients to see, so I loaded you guys up and after work, we headed over to the red neck riviera of Biloxi MS. Despite a rocky start, of a closed interstate doubling our travel time, we had a blast, swimming at the hotel pool, touring Beauvoir, (or what’s left of it after Katrina) and hanging out at the beach. We really did have a great time and only your father is sun burnt.
This school year you continue to hang out on honor roll and have several good friends. Alex and you continue to be tight, but I can’t help wondering how that is going to work out now that he is headed to middle school. New friends consist of Sebastian from your class and the Sant boys from church. Really now more than ever you seem to have surrounded yourself with a really good group of kids. I hope you always continue to make good choices in the people you hang out with. Trust me on this one, it IS important.
Since our last birthday letter you’ve continued to play every sport known to man. This year you’ve add football to the rotation, but currently you are obsessed with baseball. We are waiting for your season to start. I had thought at one point you might be ready to settle down and specialize in, well, something, but obviously that is not the case. It is not just playing sports that your are passionate about. You and your father often commandeer the TV for hours on Saturdays to watch what ever sporting event is paramount to the hour. I look forward to seeing what will shake out of this passion.
Jack, here’s where I get all mushy on you. (Hey we all knew it was coming.) You are smart, athletic, pig headed and really sensitive. All qualities that will serve you well in life. You hold within you all the ingredients to be a great man. I mean a really great person in this world. Continue to make good decisions to learn and be kind to people. Be willing to stand up for what you believe and learn when a fight is just not worth it. Learning that difference will be one of the challenges in your life, but I promise it will be worth.
I love you so very much. I am more proud of you and the person you are becoming that I could ever say. I know you will do great things and I’m so lucky to be along to watch them. I guess you could say that is the theme of this year. I can’t wait to watch all the things you are gonna do and become. I couldn’t be more excited to coach and cheer you from the side lines. This is a great game.
I love you Jackson,
Mom