Today my Cricket turned 6 years old. It is weird to see you becoming a little lady so fast. It is hard to believe that those days of making you giggle on your bouncer was so long ago. Now you are in Kindergarten learning to read and write and do math.
We had a party for you this past weekend – we had a bunch of your friends both from school and from our old stomping grounds up near Allentown (your mother was not too happy with me for having beer at the party, but there were as many adults present as kids). As I sit here writing this the streamers and banners are still hanging in the doorway, only feet from the Christmas tree and the stockings. Also as I sit here, I can feel the dinner and ice cream from Friendly’s sitting heavy in my stomach.
I have to say that there is no way to impress upon a non-parent the love that a parent has for their child. I love my wife, I’ve loved others before, and I will always love my parents and my sisters, but none of those compare. No other love can rival the unconditional love that is so full of hope and eager anticipation, so full of tolerance for anything and everything, so lacking in selfishness that a parent feels for a child – that I feel for you. Always.
I love the little rituals that we share. A part of me looks forward to giving you a kiss, a hug, and a very special bug as you leave for the prom, as you graduate from high school and college, as you walk down the aisle. I love that we can talk about nearly anything, no matter how trivial. I love to see you see the world through your own eyes – without my particular brand of bias – and see what conclusions you might reach of your own accord.
It is funny to see you interacting with school friends now – and how much of myself I see in you when you do. I see some of the same shyness that I tended to have with new people, and then the same bawdiness that I tended to have with those with which I was comfortable. You also have that same tendency to politely argue against things – with your “Well actually …”. I love that at 6 you can use words like actually, essentially, similar, and dozens of other multisyllabic words that even I didn’t tend to use until much later.
Happy birthday, Cricket. It is hard to believe that I’m already 1/3 of the way to having to let you go away to college. There is so much to learn between now and then. But so far I’m enjoying my lessons.
what wonderful things to write and reminisce over your Cricket. She is such a sweet girl as were you a sweet boy too. so what am I in store for? :o) I am in big trouble! I am just beginning to be amazed by the things my child says and does! she is a sponge right now! it’s a wonderful time! we look forward to seeing all of you soon! Enjoy opening presents on Christmas morning! we will have some waiting for you here too!!! Love you very much! Stacy