The day you turned twelve, I saw you once in the morning, on your way to school. You opened your first present, a Lego Chewbacca and were happy about that. When you returned home, I was at a tournament and your dad took you camping. You and a friend decided you didn’t need your dads around, so you sent them home and camped out on your own.
I took you on a trip to the Lego store without your brothers and watched you shop very carefully, settling on a red vehicle. Then we met your dad and brothers for dinner at a buffet restaurant and you tried pot roast, got seconds on that, plus plenty of cinnamon butter and scones. There were many plates of food. You tried several desserts and made me a sundae because you are good at that and you are kind. You finished everything off with a mug of hot chocolate. Why not?
We waited a week for Solo to come out and all of us joined you for a matinee at the movie theater, Paige, too! After the movie, you asked your usual reporter questions, “Which was your favorite scene?” “Which character was the best?”
You were so nervous about church, being called up and presented to the congregation. Your nervousness showed itself in your frustration about not having the right skinny tie. Daniel helped you with that, and you wore a skinny coral tie from one of Daniel’s dances, which he tied for you. When you were called to the front of the congregation, I was proud of you for making a short smile to help everyone see the real you.
I know the Legos we bought you will not be played with as much as you believe they will. I know that your hairstyle is becoming a more important concern and I notice how you are hungry all of the time. When you got angry about something recently, you asked what to do to get over it. I suggested you do something you loved. You baked a cake and all was well.
Your favorite subjects are world history and science. You are smart. Sometimes I hear you singing and humming to yourself in your room and wish things could just stay as they are, but we’re on a faster track now. In fact, next year, you will be very different than you are today. Overall, you can look forward to bigger achievements, adventures in nature, a deeper voice, longer math problems, and you may not feel like telling me you love me as often as you do now. It’s ok. I know you still do. And oh, how I love you!