Dear Jack,
Happy 16th birthday! You have been reluctant to
celebrate this year, but I keep telling you that we have to celebrate
one of the four best days of my life (don't you love how I made that all about
me?).
I have been wishing so much lately that you could see
yourself the way that I see you. You are wise beyond your years, empathetic, wickedly funny, intelligent, thoughtful, and kind. You truly
are an amazing person, and I’m so proud to be your mom.
You have always been my child who is the hardest on himself.
But here's what I want you to remember, especially on this big
birthday: You are not defined by your toughest moments, your mistakes, or
the things you didn’t get right. Those are just small pieces of a much
bigger picture. The truth is, you have so many incredible qualities, and you
have so much power to do good in the world, even if you can't always see it
right now.
The journey to becoming yourself is messy, and a big part of being a teenager is figuring things out. You don’t have to have all the answers. Your worth is not tied to your success, your grades, or what other people think. Your worth is simply in who you are.
Your dad and I are here for you, always. We'll celebrate
your victories, and we'll sit with you through the hard times. This world is a
better place because you are in it, Jack.
I love you more than words can say.
Happy Birthday, sweet boy.
Love,
Mom
