Today you are 5: A Letter to my birthday girl

A letter to my birthday girl. 

Today you are 5.

5 years.

5 years wild. 

You love white wolves because they are a fierce predator. You love to howl at the moon. You love otters, sharks and possums (yes, possums). 

You keep my pockets stuffed with snail shells, rocks and leaves and are always collecting. 

Saying goodbye or goodnight includes constantly evolving elaborate rituals, not limited too, fuzzy mommys, glug glug ding, hand kisses, synchronized blown kisses, nose kisses and three honks. Separation is hard for your sensitive soul.

You love reading and never miss a new book. We’ve made our way to Goblet of Fire in Harry Potter, The Neverending Story, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and countless Geronimo books. 

You’re an introvert. An audiobook with headphones is your happy place and now that you’ve exhausted The Magic Treehouse you’ve started Harry Potter and listen to the last few chapters of The Prisoner of Azkaban on repeat. 

You’ve got a thing about pictures and our phones are filled with pictures of you with every meal or treat you’ve ever consumed.

The tv is all Octonauts and Wild Kratts.

You prefer building in the sandbox to riding your scooter. You remain cautious and observant. Your analytical mind questions everything and you pounce on any new word or concept with endless questions. 

You are persistent, so persistent. You are not easily cajoled into cooperation and we’ve lost our cool many times. 

You love fiercely. You tell me you will love me even after I die and that after I die you will kiss my bones. When your soft heart is overwhelmed with vulnerability you ask if we can all die at the same time. When you hear a beautiful piece of music, sometimes you dance. Other times you cry because you have what you named, ‘the happy/sads’. 

Treats. You just want treats all the time. But it must also be a new treat!

This year you were supposed to start school. Instead you were home. It meant we could take our time. You are still not a morning person! Lots of back tickles are required. You spent many days in your pyjamas with unbrushed hair. Once you spent an entire afternoon crying when you discovered we can’t go back in time. 

Your little sister watches and emulates your every move. This past year you’ve become good playmates as well. You look out for Emily, memorizing her food sensitivities and making sure we never give her tomatoes or bananas. 

5 years old and already I’m seeing the beginnings of maturity. The beginnings of impulse control, easier transitions and increased cooperation. I’m not as excited by this as I once was (although it’s appreciated). 

I’ve come to treasure the intensity and purity of your expression. 

Your wildness. 

My birthday promise to you, I will help you preserve that wildness within. Maturity will not come at the expense of your true self. 

Happy Birthday my wild one.