Dearest Rhys,

You, my little love, are pure sunshine, a miraculous bright light in this world. You own my heart and rock my world in so many ways, big and small. I adore every inch of you from your wispy, tangled brown ringlets to your curvy, mini-me toes. You are joy to me and to countless others.

In our few short years together, you have patiently and repeatedly taught me many things about life. In honor of your fourth birthday, I want to thank you, my sweet girl, for the following lessons:

1. Love:  Pure and simple. You love me because I’m your mama and that’s enough for you.

2. Getting Your Needs Met:  You know what you want and are willing to ask for it verbally and non-verbally: One of my favorite ways is when you poke caress my face when I fall asleep take a short break during our daily mommy-daughter reading time.

3. Importance of play:  When I wrote a “things to know” list for our new babysitter, you took the list, looked at the babysitter and said, “It says, play, play and more play!”

4. Self-Worth:

Me: “Rhys, I will come to see your bubble drawings for the fiftieth time again after I finish my dinner.”

You:  “Mom, I am more important than food.”

5. Philosophy:  “Mama, cuddling fixes everything.”

6. Clarity:  “Mom, I’ll have a bagel with cream cheese, cut in half, with cereal, three kinds in different bowls, with milk and separate spoons and a spoonful of cream cheese on the side.”  (I identify with your love of all things carbohydrate and cream cheese as these are also two of my favorite food groups.)

7. Creative Problem Solving:

You:  “Mom, do you need any company in your bed tonight?” (When Daddy was out of town.)

Me:  “No thanks, honey. You can sleep in your own comfy bed.”

You:  “Mom, if I have a bad dream can I come and sleep with you?”

Me:  “Sure, Rhys.”

You:  “Mom, ahhhhhhh, I’m dreaming! Hurry, I’m dreaming! Oh no, I’m dreaming! I have to come sleep with you!”

8. Prioritization:  “Mom, I can’t shower now. I haven’t colored in five or six years and I want to color now.”

9. Fashion Sense:  “Daddy, when we play Cinderella, do not wear that to be the prince. It’s disgusting!”

10. Attention to Detail:  I was eating pasta with tomato sauce and you were on my lap. You handed me a napkin and told me, “You’ll need this, you’ll get some on your face” and pointed to both sides of my mouth.

My little bug, thank you for teaching me, guiding me and reminding me of all that is important in life, especially my relationship with you, plain and simple. I love getting to know you and appreciate having the privilege of watching you grow.

I wish you joy and the ability to see yourself as you really are, a beautiful, loving, curious child, one who deserves to treat herself well and be treated well by others. May you have a big life, full of victories, mistakes, re-dos and abundant self-compassion. May you continue to be teachable and accept yourself along the way. May you have wonderful relationships with others that nourish your soul and tickle your insides. May you hold your head up and believe the universe is acting for you, for your good. May you know love in every iteration; giving and receiving. May you count your blessings and bless your circumstances. May your life be yours and beyond your wildest dreams.

I love you,

Mama

I’m all that & more!