Hello '8' + Goodbye First Grade

Over the past week, Carter has celebrated his 8th birthday, and also said goodbye to first grade.

We have an 8-year-old 2nd grader.

How did this happen?

For Carter, this was the year of 'happy'.  We have many goals for Carter. We have mental lists of our hopes and dreams for his future. Of all the things that we hope Carter will embrace and enjoy, happiness is at the top of our list.

When I struggle with the things Carter could be doing - should be doing - isn't doing - I stop and ask myself: Is he happy?


This year, every single time, the answer has been 'yes'.

So much happy. He'll even tell us: "HAPPY!!!"

Progress is slow in this area over here. Over in that other area, we aren't even trying. And then there's that one thing we've been working on forever.

Yeah. Uh-huh. But is he happy?

He's happy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear Carter,

First Grade is over, and you rocked it. You showed up every single day, ready to work. You didn't always want to. Sometimes you told us. But you still showed up, game face on, ready to do your thing.

Speech, math, OT, art - music - gym (not your favorites), writing...all important parts of your day. You did it all (mostly) daily (sort of).

But the area you excelled? Happy.

Your happiness flowed out of you and on to the people around you. It's contagious, you know.

We had a rough patch at the end of the year. It was hard on all of us. Someday, I hope you'll be able to tell us why you aren't happy. Until then, we'll just keep trying to understand you.

Here's to your 8th year of life, and your 2nd grade of school.

May happiness abound in your life. May you be understood. May you be appreciated and loved by those around you.

We love you, sweet brother bear. Here's to another year of Happy.

One Thing I Know For Sure: "HAPPY!!!!"