Dear Master Frugal,
The last eight years has flown by and I know that I can’t really call you my baby boy anymore because you’re eight today and as you keep telling me, eight is very grown up.
You’ve changed so much lately – transforming from a shy, quiet little worrier to a confident, outgoing young man and Mammy and Daddy are so proud of you. It’s lovely to see you so confident now – the day you came home from school when you were in Year one and told me how you felt stupid because you weren’t as clever as the other kids in your class almost broke my heart and I’ll never, ever forget that feeling. I cried that night because I wanted so much to help you and to make everything all right but at the time, nothing I or the school did seemed to click with you.
The school said you just needed more confidence and a bit of one to one time with the teacher and you’d be away. The support they gave you was great but you know what, it was you who changed things. Your determined streak made sure that you took full advantage of the extra time the school have you and slowly, you started to take it in. The change was clear and day by day, your confidence increased and you were happier within yourself. You worked so hard and now you’re ahead of your classmates in most subjects – in fact you can actually be a bit cocky about it by telling everyone who’ll listen that you’re actually quite clever. I don’t have the heart to tell you off though, you’re just proud of yourself – as you should be!
Your new found confidence is changing you in other ways too. Your big sister has had a bit of a shock lately as you’ve finally started to stand up for yourself. She’s so used to getting her own way with you that she’s not sure what to do about this new development – it’s caused a few arguments lately between you and you’re both going to have to work on learning what the word ‘compromise’ means. You’re getting better but you’re not there yet and it doesn’t help that you’re developing the same stubborn streak that she’s got.
When it comes down to it though, you two are best friends and I love that. You can play together for hours and on a weekend morning, I love waking up to find you two sat together reading or watching TV (and lately, playing on the Xbox). I just hope you’re always this close!
I also hope that you’re always as loving as you are right now, although I doubt you will when the hormones hit 😉
You love snuggling up to me on the settee and giving me big kisses (as long as no ones looking) and we call you a stealth ninja because you manage to get into our bed between us and under the quilt without waking either of us up – now if you could just master the art of staying still when you’re there and not fidget so much then you might get to stay there for more than five minutes!
I hope you have a lovely birthday and enjoy all the suprises we have planned for you.
Lots of Love,
Mammy
P.S. Don’t forget that no matter how old you get, you’ll always be my baby.
