Dear OBoy,
I want to tell you something so that I remember it and so that you can know that it happened when this day has long past. Yesterday afternoon we went to the grocery store as a family. Just this week you have started to be able to fully buckle and unbuckle yourself from your carseat – a fact of which you are very proud – so when we arrived home you unbuckled yourself from your seat and opened your car door. You got out of the car and closed your door. You asked Daddy for the house keys and when he gave them to you, you went up and unlocked the door to the house. You went inside the house and closed the door behind you. You set Daddy’s keys on the counter and you took off your shoes before going to let our dog out of her crate.
In all this time, I didn’t say anything to you. You did each of these things by yourself without any reminding and your Daddy and I sat in the car (with your younger brother) and just marveled. We were awe struck by your capability and your responsibility. It’s not just that you have grown up and are able to do these things, it’s that you do do them. Even now it makes my eyes a little watery to think of what a blessing your have been to your family, especially as you grow in your role as older brother and Mommy’s helper.
Perhaps you won’t understand this until you have kids of your own someday, but there is a continuum of “helpful”. Toddlers like OBrother are helpful when they slowly and painstakingly put things into the garbage can or when they “wipe up” what they spill. But you are a different kind of helpful, buddy, and you are more big-boy-helpful every single day. Earlier this week I heard you teaching OBrother how to count by having him repeat numbers in order after you. Not only was that a heart-swelling moment for me, it was a beautiful reflection of your genuine helpfulness and love for your brother. You want to help him learn how to be a big boy like you. Sure, sometimes you want to wrestle him to the ground over a lego truck too, but that’s for another letter.
I want you to know that Daddy and I are so incredibly proud of you and we are so incredibly blessed to have you as our son. I know that as this new baby comes you will thrive even more as you fill the shoes of big brother to two little siblings. I also cannot wait to see how much you help this sweet baby girl. And she will need your help. She will need your help to feel safe, to be snuggled, to reach things, to learn things, to cheer up, to feel loved… and if there’s anything I know about you, it’s that you are up to the task. You will rock it, even.
And real quick regarding a significantly less important topic: could you please always like your hair a little long and shaggy? Because it is pretty much perfect like that.
Love you to the moon and back, sweet boy.
-Mommy
So in love with this. My 4 year old is at this stage too (much of the time) and it is so bittersweet. It is such a reward to reap this harvest, but it is so almost jarring to realize how fast it has come. Though there is still much to do, it is a bit alarming when he surprises me by doing so much so fast.
What a blessing biggest brothers are to a family :)
OMG! That hair. I am in love. Ava will be too. They are going to be so gorgeous together. LOL
Oh, Allison, this was beautiful in so many ways. Perhaps it’s so easy to relate to this because I have a helpful 4 year old and also a “helpful” 2 year old? Either way, wonderful words that I’m sure OBoy will treasure one day when he’s older. But not too soon, because these guys need to stay little just a bit longer, yes?
That hair! That smile! *swoon* What a little man. Love this Alison.
This is so sweet. What a darling little guy to have be the biggest brother of them all. Way to go momma for documenting the prefect moments of his little 4 year old life.
Such a beautiful letter!
Awe!! I love it when things like this happen. Shows your doing exactly what your suppose to be doing…..teaching your kids to be an adult.
I love this. My 3yo is quickly becoming this, and it warms me to the core. Oldest of three, with one brother and one sister, he is moving out of the ‘helpful toddler’ stage and into the ‘legitimately helpful’ age. I’m so excited to see how both of our boys grow!
I know I see pictures of him on instagram, but whenever you post I can’t believe how big he’s gotten. Wasn’t he just a tiny newborn, your only child, a few months ago? He’s so sweet.
♥
This story just made my day that much more special, thank you for sharing!