Eight Years Old

Dear Tad,

Today is your eighth birthday, son.  It has passed within the blink of an eye for me.  But these last few weeks have passed by SO slowly for you.  I know you thought that this day would never come.  But it finally has.  Today is August 12th, and it is YOUR birthday.

And this is the year that you can finally associate your birthday with an actual date on the calendar, and know that because it is your birthday, you are now eight years old.  There aren’t words enough to tell you how much I love you, or how proud I am of you.

This last year of school required you to meet new challenges and do some growing and maturing.  I spent a lot of time thinking about your change from the CLC to the mid-level program.  And you knocked it out of the park.  Yes, we had some growing pains, and yes, there was a lot to adjust to in one school year.  But this year is going to be so much easier for you – you’ll have the same teacher, in the same classroom, with some of the same kids, at the same school.  You are going to do so well.  I just know it.  We’ll keep working on the math skills you will need, and I know we’ll continue to polish your reading and keep pushing you in speech and social skills.  But going back to school is a comfort to you, and that makes me so happy.

And the joy of my life is being able to talk to you as I would to your sister.  I might have to repeat myself, I might have to do more rationalizing or explaining, you might argue with me, but you understand me – and the majority of the time, I understand you right back.  Maybe someday, you’ll know what happiness that brings to my heart.  Even the arguing.  Really.  That you have the language skills and the cognitive ability to argue with me is amazing.

Your Dad and I love you so much, Tad.  You sister loves you (most of the time) and tolerates you (some of the time).  Your little brother wants to be like you (most of the time) or just wants to have your stuff (some of the time).  And your baby brother is fascinated by you, even if you aren’t sure about him.  Still, you are looking out for him in your own way, and I am eager to see how your relationship will develop.

You are sweet, lovable, affectionate, stubborn, hyper-focused, detail-oriented, and 100% Tad.  I can’t imagine what life would be like without you.

Happy 8th birthday, Tad.

Love,
Mom

This entry was posted on Monday, August 12th, 2013 at 12:40 am and is filed under Announcements, Autism Adventures, Children, Mommyhood.
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