I Love You, Two
Dear Alec,
It’s your second birthday today–a day that many consider to mark the beginning of the “terrible twos.”
And I’ll admit, there have been some meltdowns, and some temper tantrums, and some roller-coaster emotions in the house over the past few months.
But when it all comes down to it, there is little about you that I would describe as “terrible.”
Unless, that is, I were to describe your terribly sweet charm–the way you pat me gently on the back when you give me hugs, as if to say, “it’s alright, Mommy, it’s alright.”
And then there is your terribly astute sense of humor–the ways in which you have learned to the fine art of making people laugh, and knowing what makes people laugh, long before most children do.
Or your terribly keen sense of how things work–the way you figure out how to do things (like dress yourself) and build things (like block towers) and get things (like the toy that is just out of reach) and imitate things that Daddy and I do (like using a potholder to pull food out of your toy kitchen’s oven).
And then there are the seeming contradictions in your personality, like your terribly fierce independence and your terribly loving bond with me; your terribly shy nature and your terribly uncanny ability to MAKE YOURSELF HEARD when you need to be heard.
You are terribly and utterly marvelous, you know.
You have transformed me from the moment of your birth, and life has been terribly wonderful ever since.
I love you,
Mommy
What a nice touch. I’m sure the kids will love reading these when they’re older. I did this for Jonas and Julesy’s first birthdays, and for Jonas’s 2nd birthday, but not for all of them.
I wish my mother had written to me when I was a baby. When they get married or have their own children, you should put these letters in a photo book and give them to them. I’m sure they’d love it.
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Happy Birthday, Alec! I hope you all had a wonderful family celebration yesterday! We were thinking of you.
My son just turned two a month ago and you know what? We’ve loved having a two year old. I’d much rather this two year old than a 20-month-old:). Tons of fun. Still a lot of work, but so much fun.
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I so hate the ‘two-year-olds-are-bad’ narrative; the whole year Noah was two, strangers would find out I had a two-year-old and say things like ‘oh, then, good luck!’ or ‘I’m sorry!’ or ‘uh-oh.’ And I had to struggle not to say things like ‘well aren’t YOU a treat’ or ‘actually, my child is quite a lot more pleasant than SOME ADULTS I’VE MET’ or ‘screw you, buddy.’ Anyway, what a fun time to watch language skills explode and get to know one’s child better and better, right? Enjoy … and happy birthing day to you.