Yesterday my little boy turned 4 years old. At his bedtime tonight, I read Oh the Places You'll Go! as he fell asleep. His head was on my shoulder and he pressed the Xbox Lego Batman game case to his chest.
"I'm going to cuddle with Lego Batman tonight," He explained, as we curled up in his bed.
I have never read Oh the Places You'll Go!, nor have I ever cried myself through a children's book quite so much. Haven was tired from partying late into his birthday night yesterday, so he was asleep before I read "...except when you don't, because sadly you won't, I'm sorry to say so but sadly, it's true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you" which is good. Because all I could think about was how this book is often a graduation gift. One day my boy will be turning 18 and not 4. He will trot out into the world and sometimes things will go well for him and sometimes they will not. One day there will be bigger successes, but there will also be bigger disappointments. I gulped back tears as I finished the book.
I remember after our many talks during my childhood my Dad would often sum up with, "I just really love you, hon" as his eyes welled with tears. At the time I thought crying was a strange reaction to telling me he loved me. But I get it now.
So, here's to ups and downs and supporting one another. And a little happy dance that Haven turned 4 (and not 18) yesterday.