My sweet darling baby boy,
I can’t believe it’s that time of the year AGAIN. Your final year in single digits… Whaaa? Nooo! I’m gonna cry!!! This one came too quickly, almost without a warning.
It would be a cliché for me to start by telling you I don’t know where the last nine years have gone by, so I won’t. But I will let you know that I am enjoying every single second of watching you grow into the young man I see in my home every day.
I swear, I blinked and you flew from my arms to the real world, making it more beautiful with your existence.
One of your friend's moms recently sent me a text that read,
“We appreciate having Ansh in school so much. Everyone loves him and the kids are nicer and better behaved when he’s there.”
That’s just who you are. All you.
You get your baseball batting talent from your dad, a fair share of your beautiful goofiness, and your sense of humor come from him as well.
I’d like to believe I’m passing the willingness to help others on to you, along with a courageous heart and bold spirit. But this goodness in your soul? That’s all you, my love. I cannot tell you how lucky I am to be your mom.
This year, you finished 3rd grade, took to baseball like you were born for it, started doing crazy math in your head, went out of your way to help your friends, hugged me every day before leaving for school, snuggled on the couch with me on movie nights, and STILL hold my hand and my heart.
You are such a responsible kiddo. One day you called me from the school office to remind me that you had art that day, so I shouldn’t come to pick you up at the bus stop. Just how did you know I was getting ready to head to the bus stop?
What I love the most about you is how emotionally aware you are of everyone’s feelings. You go out of your way to make sure everyone feels welcome and can’t stand to see anyone hurting. That sad feeling you sometimes get when you see someone hurting or upset on TV or in the movies? That’s empathy. That you possess this trait at your age is a treasure. Don’t ever lose that.
I am proud that you are my son. I hope I tell you that often enough.
A few most memorable conversations that I had with you this year:
Ansh: "Maybe when I’m older, I can open my own shop and sell Maggi."
Me: "That would be fantastic"
Ansh: "But I also want to be a chess player and baseball player. What if I don’t get time?"
Me: "You’ll find time. If you really want to do something, you will have to juggle and work hard. You’ve seen how dad and I work, right?"
Ansh: "Well, let’s just hope when I grow up, I don’t have kids. Coz they are so distracting"
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Ansh: "My brain is hurting a lot today."
Me: "What do you mean? Because you’re sleepy? Why is your brain hurting?"
Ansh: "Maybe because I used it a lot today."
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During a sleepover at Vinay’s:
Vinay: "Ansh, you should go to sleep."
Ansh: "I don’t understand why parents don’t have to sleep."
Vinay: "What do you mean? I’m going to sleep now."
Ansh: "But my mom never sleeps?"
Oh Ansh, you teach me so much about life and love every day. You make me strong in ways I never thought I could be. Being your mom is nothing short of a privilege. I pray that you keep being kind and caring, carry on being funny and silly; and you keep trying your best in everything.
Happy 9th, my darling boy. This year is a little different as you’re mourning the loss of your dadu, but know that he is your guardian angel and always watching over you. His warm, big bear hugs are something you’ll always cherish. He’d want only the best for you.
Go on, my boy. Be bright. Be bold. Be loving. And go spread your sunshine in the world.
Love you forever,
Mom
