Dear Harriet, Age 5

Dear, sweet Harriet,

And today you are five. How did that happen? You’re five, and you’ll be starting kindergarten in a couple weeks. My girl, I will miss you while you’re at school. We’ve been a team for the past few years, first while you were waiting to go to preschool, and last year as you were waiting to go to elementary school.  Now it’s your turn, and I’ll be on my own. While I’ll enjoy the time to myself, don’t get me wrong, I’ll also miss our time of just the two of us.

This morning, before people were up, I sneaked into your room to see if you were awake. You were, and I got to be the first person to wish you a happy birthday. You said you were just waiting in bed because nobody else was awake yet. We talked about what it was like 5 years ago today, with the two of us working together to look into each other’s eyes. That was a special day, and I’ll tell you about it every year until you understand it.

This year has been a big, fun one for you. You have learned so much, and worked so hard, especially on your speech. I’ve been going with you to your speech lessons this summer, and I’ve been impressed with your grit. You try and try and try. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t, but I haven’t seen you give up. You are still creative and imaginative. You come up with the coolest things – like Paperland, and all the other lands that you can travel between. You still love your ooh-aahs and bears – sometimes you forget them at home, but luckily they can always find their way to you. You have real magic – you can see through things, and you’re really a wicked witch (but I wasn’t supposed to hear you tell Alma that one). You like mermaids, unicorns, and all things magical. You also like poop, toots, shake booty, and all things potty talk.

I hope that you stay just as curious and creative as you are now (or grow even more curious and creative!).  I hope you make great new friends who will last your whole life. I hope you learn new things – like how to read – and that you find joy in them. I hope you still want to cuddle and sleep on my lap. I hope that you are brave. I hope that you are strong. I hope that you resist what you know is wrong. I hope that you fight for what is right. I hope that you feel loved, greatly, every single day that you’re five.

Because you are loved greatly.

I love you, my sweet Hattie Girl.

All my love,
Mommy