Monday, August 4, 2014

Dear Rocco...



My darling boy...in a few weeks you begin a whole new adventure.  Lucky for me...it starts out slowly, with half day Kindergarten...just 3 hours a day.  The hardest part, besides missing your every move for those 3 hours is to put you on a school bus!  I mean, you still sit in a booster seat in Mommy's car...how am I supposed to put you on a bus all alone?  I know that I will be holding back tears as I say goodbye,  as I tell you to find your brave heart and summon up all your courage and remind you that I believe in you...so many times I have uttered these words to you...and I watch you trust me because I am mommy and you have faith that I will always keep you safe...this responsibility is overwhelming as I send you off to school.  I am filled with hope that you will thrive and pride in all that you are.  How lucky your class is to have you in it.  A little boy that loves, hugs and tries to save trees and makes friends with the deer in his backyard...the little boy with the tender heart, that cares about others' feelings and does what he can to help.  No one's sadness goes unnoticed with you in the room...you are genuine and compassionate.  A little boy who is SMART!  I am still amazed that you taught yourself how to read...I love reading books with you and watching the concentration in your face as you sound out words that seem to hard for you to get...but you do it and I smile and squeeze you and praise your hard work.  A little boy that asks questions about life and death and the stars and the planets and the world and the dinosaurs...a little boy that cried when he learned that wooly mammoths are extinct because you never got to see them...your questions and insight show what a deep and spiritual person you are intrinsically.  Daddy and I have to carefully answer all your questions because you will catch us if we aren't accurate...if the explanation doesn't make sense.  A little boy that so loves his Roman...to the point of swallowing all your fears in swim class after Roman looked up at you and asked you to keep him safe.  I watched you look down at him, hug him and shake your head yes...even in your fear of dunking your head, you encouraged your brother so he could do it!  A little boy that lets his brother win...because you understand that he is little and that winning is less important than making him smile.  A little boy that giggles and plays and loves video games and sneaking gulps of Mommy's soda...a little boy with the most beautiful eyes...from the moment of your birth, Daddy and I have been enraptured by your big, bright eyes...and the sweet soul we see behind them.  A little boy...with a sense of justice and a feisty little attitude...I love your sassy ways...it reminds me that I am in you...that you are part of me.  I told you once that magic happened when the nurse touched your newborn cheek to mine...the magic of falling in love...and every night when we say sweet dreams...you touch your little cheek to mine so I can feel the magic again.  I do Rocco, I feel it every night.  Thank you for giving me that little gift of you...oh how I will miss you...but I believe in you and your brave heart!  Welcome to Kindergarten baby!  I love you endlessly...mommy