This post is my special happy 7th birthday wishes for my dear son with love, from Mom. I love this annual tradition of writing birthday letters for each of my children on their birthdays. It is a chance to reflect on the memories from the year behind and share excitement for the year ahead.
Dear Spear, my beloved son,
It feels like just yesterday your precious chubby cheeks were drinking milk from a bottle and now we’re celebrating your SEVENTH birthday!!! Our birthday boy!
Seven is considered by many to be the golden age of childhood. The lucky number birthday. You’re leaving “baby” behind but still in that sweet spot of being a “little kid.” Free to be authentically the you-of-the-moment. Embracing what you love without the concern of what others think of you.
While many parents consider the age of seven to be the best years of parenting their children, I see you forever childlike, in all the magical ways. You live for the NOW. You have such a natural kindness and sweet energy. I can’t fathom that ever fading – nor can I fathom you ever wanting to stop our nightly tuck-ins complete with “Mommy Kisses!”
I always heard the phrase “boys love their mamas,” and while Kye and I have our own special bond, he was never LOVEY with me the way you are. Almost territorial. Always wanting to be near me, always needing that goodnight song.
Of all my kids, you’re the most mommy-focused. It is so sweet and fills my heart with such joy. I think it is even that much more special to me, being that you joined our family via adoption.
You may have moments where you ask about Mama E or say something that catches me off guard (like “she’s my real mommy”), but I never doubt that I’m your mother to you and for you and that you also have that full trust and bond with our relationship.
It’s always been very important to me to emphasize all the beautiful elements of your adoption story. You love that you’re unique and extra special! I pray you always, always know what a gift and blessing you are to us all.
The older you get, the more questions I’m sure you’ll have. I am ALWAYS here to talk you through anything. To listen. To answer every question I can to the best of my knowledge. To help you sort through whatever feelings may arise.
There are no wrong feelings. And it’s also not wrong to not have any about it either. It was your beginning, but it does not define your present or your future. You are Spear Parker through and through!
This has been a big year for you as a kindergartener, and you are now a first-grader. I am thankful we had you enrolled in the all-day preschool at the same school, as it made the transition so smooth and you. Of course you have big sister Tess there looking out for you! I’m pretty sure you try to run away from her to have a bit of freedom 😉
Reading has been going well; it seems to come pretty naturally for you to pick up the skill and you have found joy in graphic novels, especially Dog Man (thanks to Tess!).
You have countless friends and especially love the ladies (Penelope has been a long-standing “bestie”). I am very proud of your boundaries with them. The stories you tell about protecting your friends while also playing so well together with them is so wonderful.
All of your teachers always adore you and comment on how adorable you are, how sweet, how creative, and how funny you are too! You are unique and stand out in all the best ways!
You were diagnosed with ADHD a bit earlier than average, and I have zero regrets about pushing for that diagnosis. It has been amazing to see how your medicine allows you to be your best self and truly thrive across the board.
It took some tweaking in kindergarten to figure out the best dosing schedule for you, and now I think we have a good rhythm down. Of course, anytime you hit a growth spurt, that changes a bit!
Speaking of growth, you are still a little guy (which I think is also something that adds to your adorableness). You’re wearing 5T clothing sizes. Your favorite shoes continue to be Crocs and you love “soft” pants and shorts.
We do a lot of long sleeves and pants due to your eczema and your tendency to pick at any scabs you may have (and with an all-boy kinda boy like you are…trust me you always have SEVERAL).
You lost your first tooth this year! I know that little boy smile is starting the process of becoming an adult one, and what a journey that always is. Enjoy these pics of your “perfect baby smile” because the next few years it will probably be looking a bit funky (or “chopped” as Britt likes to say!).
As a parent, I think all the smiles are adorable, but now having teens, I realize how you’ll most likely look back at the gapped tooth and mixed adult and baby teeth look and cringe.
Daddy likes to keep your hair shaggy and long while I prefer the shorter “little boy” haircut. I’m interested to see what your style is like in adulthood.
I’ve always had a hard time picturing all my kids as grown-up but for some reason with you I can just picture you being a burly kinda guy with like a lumberjack look and vibe. A flannel shirt, a stocky, strong build, and a beard. I have no clue why I see that but I’m so intrigued to see if it ends up being a reality!
Daddy and I often say “it’s only going to get easier.” And we’ve really seen the easier start happening this year! Going and doing with you has become more FUN and less WORK on us as parents.
Going out to eat – you bring a few toys or a book, and you’re totally content. Playing activities – we are better able to schedule your medicine to help you have full focus and be able to enjoy the things we go and do as a family.
You ADORE Disney World, and I’m so thankful you’ve been able to visit the parks as regularly as you have your entire life. I hope that will keep the love for Disney going for you long after you become an adult. With your imaginative mind, creative spirit, fun-loving attitude, and ability to live in the present moment…you have all the makings of one epic Disney Dad!
Disney has only leveled up with you as you’ve gotten older. You don’t mind long wait times, you never complain about waiting for fireworks, and you even ASK to browse the shops.
This year we did our first park open to park close day together (then even drove 3.5 hours home afterward) and you ROCKED IT.
It was the absolute PERFECT time for us to take our mother-son solo Disney trip together. We had the absolute best time. You LOVED Animal Kingdom Lodge. We enjoyed the craft area together and walking the property to see all the animals.
But most of all we loved the arcade. I have regrets when I took Kye on a similar trip that I didn’t lean into what he enjoyed most (the arcade) so I didn’t make that mistake with you (beauty of being the youngest child…you get a 2.0 version of your parents!). We laughed SO HARD at the boat ride “game” and the booty shaking. Core memory for sure!
Doggie, sadly, did get left behind, but thankfully we had a backup “car Doggie” at home and you’ve been SO careful not to lose him. And even with the loss of Doggie, it was still a trip you ask about again and again.
I loved that quality one-on-one time with you SO much, and it is so special to me that you loved it so much too.
We’ve gotten fully settled into our new home and you love, love, love playing outside. All the headache of the build process and move itself were well worth it to see your enjoyment of it.
As soon as you walk in the door from school, you drop your stuff and GO. Digging in the dirt, finding bugs, riding your dump truck, helping Daddy around the yard. Goodness, I am not even sure exactly what you’re doing out there half the time – I just know it’s SO GOOD FOR YOU!
You aren’t an “ipad kid” that’s for sure! I would be shocked if you didn’t end up with some sort of career that allows you to be outdoors. I could also totally see you using your talents for figuring out how things work to be an Imagineer at Disney…don’t forget your little old mama when it comes to handing out those free tickets okay? 😉
God blessing me as your mom is the greatest gift and biggest blessing of my life. I pray that we are leading you down the path towards Him and an eternity spent in His heavenly home.
I am so thankful for our church home and church family. That you’re being raised in an environment that teaches God’s Word and examples who show His love through their shining lights.
You love to lead “My God is So Big” each Wednesday night; you also are beginning to ask more questions and are better able to sit through the services, which allows more and more of the worship to sink in.
We are having to remind you less frequently to stop playing and coloring and to pray. We are better able to listen to the lessons ourselves too as you’ve gotten older!
As your mom, I naturally worry about your salvation. I know in many ways you are immature for your age. This is a common trait with ADHD. I am thankful for the spurts of “catching up” when I can see the ways in which your faith is developing, God’s Word is being written on your heart, and our efforts to train you up in the way you should go are having an impact.
I pray that as you read this as an adult, you’re a member of Christ’s church, that you continue to build on that strong foundation the Lord has set for you, and that you have comfort in knowing eternity with Him is secured through your continual repentance and striving to do His Will.
When those times come that you question your faith, struggle in sin, walk difficult paths, please know you are NEVER alone. God is your father in Heaven, and your Daddy and I are your parents on earth. In addition, you have three of the best siblings any kid could ask for.
You are surrounded by extended family, church family, and friends who love you. No problem is too small to come to us; no problem is too big for us to ever question our love for you.
Our love and His love are unending. Nothing has to be done to earn it. Nothing can be done to remove it.
I love you with my whole being, and there is NO valley we cannot cross together. When those times of struggle come (and sadly they do for us all), I’m here to hold you, help guide you, and encourage you to let those tough moments be ones that foster growth!
You don’t have to worry about finding the right words; sometimes they may not even be kind words, but anytime you need to express emotions, you have me. I’m here for the joyful moments, the beautiful moments, but the darker moments too.
This year has been filled with so many wonderful memories. All the trips and adventures (ones that we loved and ones that potentially scarred you for life cough Savannah ghost tour cough). All the family together moments. All the one on one snuggles and tuck-ins.
The car rides with silly games (like when you have us guess the animal you’re thinking of), chatty talks (when you are in a talkative mood it’s NON-STOP and you always say MOMMY at the start of each sentence) and insightful questions (you are SO smart and always think so much deeper than you may let on!).
The sibling moments when you’re all rough housing and chasing each other and erupting in laughter that is filled with so much love. Meals together where you’ll always find a dipper and be the most adventurous with what you enjoy eating (CFA sauce tops the list though).
Running up to me to show me a creative drawing so you can hear me say “good work.” One of your favorite things is building with magnatiles and coming up with cities and epic buildings to crash down when you’re done. You create fairy tales of epic battles and destruction.
As I look ahead to the year to come, I know you’ll continue to grow up before my eyes. You’ll lose more of your baby teeth and baby smile. Lose more of those chubby cheeks and little boy soft skin. You’ll become a new version of you and each version just continues to build on the amazing person and boy you already are!
I cannot believe it’s been seven whole years since I first held you in my arms. I pray you look back on your childhood with nothing but wonderful things and happy memories filled with lots of love.
We may have to tell you “no” quite often, but do our best to counteract that with lots of positive words too as we never want to crush your naturally kind heart. You are our precious son. You make the world a better place, fill our family with so much light, and make me a better person because I have you as my sweet boy. Just thinking of you makes my wear a big smile!
Happy Birthday to my SEVEN Year Old! I can’t wait to enjoy your special day with you. I’ve loved you for 1,000 years and I’ll love you for 1,000 more. You have my endless love forever and ever!
xoxox,
Mommy
Past heartfelt birthday wishes to my little man:
- Heartfelt messages on Spear’s 6th birthday
- Best birthday wishes for my 5 year old
- Collection of birthday wishes for his 4th birthday
- Perfect birthday wish for his 3rd birthday
- Heartfelt sentiments on Spear’s 2nd birthday
- Fun messages of beautiful moments on his 1st birthday
My work has been featured on Love What Matters, Today Parenting and Babywise.Life. I'm also honored to be a member of the Babywise Friendly Blog Network.
You can read more about our family on my About Me page. Also be sure to follow along with me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!
