Emmett, it’s your fifth birthday today.
Five years ago you came into this world, and you made it a better place.
We’ve lived through a whole lot of firsts together, you and I… and I sometimes worry about the mistakes I’ve made learning how to be a parent with you.
But, then you remind me just how wonderful you are.
I see your warm smile to a stranger, I hear the “hi there!” you shout out to our neighbours on the sidewalk, I feel the giant hugs you give me when I least expect them, and I see the endless patience you have for your little sister. And I know that you’re growing up to be pretty dang magical.
Emmett, you love a challenge. You work so diligently to understand and solve a problem. You are clever. So very clever. Your memory astounds me, and I love that you use it to learn wild new science factoids, and also to choose the perfect birthday gift for a friend.
You write the sweetest notes to your friends, you love hockey and skiing, you’re fascinated by the way the world works, and you love having ‘math chats’ with daddy at the breakfast table. You’ve never met a book you didn’t love, and you’re a sponge for new information.
You also have the biggest feelings. Your giant heart lets you soak up so much joy, and shine it on those around you. And it also lets you feel the big sads when your world just doesn’t seem right.
When Charlie’s heartbroken about a lost toy, you cry right along with her, because you just ‘feel so sad that she’s sad’. And I love that so very much about you.
Please don’t ever let the world tell you that deep feelings aren’t okay. Because, Emmett they are.
In fact, do you want to know a secret? Those big feelings? They’re your superpower.
Use them to guide your decisions.
Use them to tell right from wrong.
Use them to stick up for a friend when you know they’re sad.
And use them to cheer others on when you know they’re doing something wonderful that will bring joy to the world.
Because those feelings you feel so very deeply? I promise they’ll be your lamp posts in life. Guiding you down the right path. And it’s absolutely a gift to move through life feeling so deeply.
They’ll call it “your gut”. But you’ll know it’s your empathy. And it’s magical.
We love you buddy. Here’s to celebrating your fifth birthday and the next year of you.
xo
