Motherly Pride

Dear Nicholas,

You are growing up so fast! You are becoming such a little man, so sure of yourself. Why, just today you showed me how you could set a goal for yourself then go about trying to achieve it. You saw Sammy's Valentine candy and wanted it. No matter how many times I said no, you kept right on asking. And then you took matters into your own hands. You pulled a serrated knife out of the drawer and started sawing the box open. Such persistence from one so young!

Or what about last week with the candle? Every time dad lit a fire in the fireplace, you asked to help. But dad always said no because he thought you were too young. You had faith in your abilities and a desire to stretch yourself. So you waited until you were alone, found a box of matches and lit the candle. Sam is almost eight, and just learned how to light a match -- but you, young Nicholas, knew you could do it -- and you did!

I admire so much your love of freedom -- your desire to run carefree outside. Nature seems to call you no matter where we are. If you are at church with dad, nature beckons you to run out the door into the full parking lot. At the doctor's office, nature invites you to make a break for it when the door opens. At home, nature entices you to sneak out the garage by opening a locked door, then quietly closing it and quickly opening the outside garage door. Yes, every time an opportunity to commune with the outdoors presents itself, you embrace it with open arms (and the fastest feet of any two year old I know).

But today, what I am most impressed with is the fact that when you say no, you mean it. At the table, I asked you to eat dinner and you said no. I said please, and you said no. I offered a bribe and you said no. I said that you would sit there until everyone was done, and you said no and dumped your entire plate of food on the floor. Yes, you know what you want and will not allow yourself to go against those convictions.

So, my dear Nicholas, it is with great motherly pride that I tell you -- keep being you! I can say with all honesty that you are one of a kind!!

Love, your frazzled mother

p.s. if we both make it to your third birthday, I will know that miracles really do happen!