I missed posting about it because I haven’t done so well mentally this week, but I have a 6 year old now! Porter’s birthday was last week! We just had a couple of small celebrations instead of the big birthday blowouts I used to host when he was smaller.
Oh, my sweet Porter. I don’t think I know a more sensitive human being on this planet than my oldest son. He’s been a sensitive and sweet one his whole life. We went through some of the terrible two’s and terrible three’s, of course. But all in all, it’s been pretty smooth sailing with him.
My boy is so smart. He’s in first grade but he’s reading second through fourth grade-level books.
He’s so intuitive and mature for his age, too. He seems to have a good grasp of understanding what other people feel and adjusting himself accordingly. He’s wise beyond his years, so much so that when he acts like the little child that he is, it catches me off-guard.
I will never, ever forget the first time I heard him cry. I will never forget he first time I saw a picture of him; I didn’t hold him when he was born. I won’t forget he first time I held him, when he was 30-something hours old. And I will never, ever forget the sight and sound of him laughing for the first time, as he practiced smiling for the first time, too.
The baby years are gone and we are solidly into Porter’s childhood. My fears about being a parent have changed over the years. I used to worry so much about his physical health. Now, I’m more interested in fostering his self-esteem and that awesome personality. I’m terribly afraid that my own insecurities will seep into his brain; I’m afraid that I don’t mask my low self-esteem well enough for him. I want to model a healthy lifestyle and perspective for him.
Porter doesn’t take anything for granted. He’s one of the angels I’ve met here on this earth and I’m beyond lucky to get to be his mother.
