a right on time twelve

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words

Dear Little Prince,

This is twelve…

But eleven was so much fun, do we have to do this whole twelve thing?  Yes?  Really?  Fine.  Let’s do it.

You’re probably tired of me asking when you got so tall.  Sorry.  If you aren’t tired of it yet, I’m sure you will be.  It is a fair question: when DID you get so tall? 

And where do the days go?  Soccer, D&D, guitar, trick-scootering, surfing, writing projects, backpacking, and endless books…

Your soccer team keeps winning things.  How exciting that is.  And while we curse the time and the miles, we are proud of what you are helping them achieve.  And we’ll continue to support you as we can as long as you continue to be passionate about soccer or any other sport.

I love listening to you playing guitar.  I hope you stick with it.  Selfishly.  It was the instrument I always wanted to learn.

The air you can catch on your scooter is something to behold.  And my heart will be in my throat every time.  Every time.  Even if it is a trick I’ve seen you do a hundred times.  You have a bravery I’m not sure I ever had.  I know I used to do tricks on my roller blades but I can’t imagine I flew the way you do.

You have another backpacking trip under your belt.  And another trip that didn’t go as planned.  Seems that keeps happening.  And it will.  That’s what happens when we test our wits and gumption against nature, we have to pivot, we have to compromise, we have to adapt.  And you have proven adept at all three.  That will serve you well throughout your life.

And the endless books.  You find such enjoyment from reading.  It is something I understand as I used to lose myself in the worlds of words of others too.  As you do, I could spend hours and days reading and begging for just one more chapter, one more page before the lights are forced off on you.  I get it.  And I hope you keep your passion for reading for years as well. 

And I’m excited to continue watching your growth.  Literally watching you catch up to my height.  You are only a few shoe sizes behind me.  It sure seems it is only a matter of time before we can stand eye to eye.  And, watching your grow as a young man.  Seeing understanding and wisdom in your eyes as decisions are made, as explanations are given, as choices are offered.  You’re very much starting to get this living thing and that is very exciting. 

What are you going to do with that knowledge?

Great things.  I have no doubt.  The Queen and I have said from early on that you will change the world.  Nothing in these twelve years has changed our opinion.  You will.

Love you, kiddo.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Daddy/Matticus/The Jester 

a slightly belated eight

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Dear Littler Prince,

This is eight. 

And this letter is late.

It’s been a year, hasn’t it?  And we’re only a couple months in.  And you are old enough now to understand how a year can fit into a couple months.  Isn’t that interesting?

So much to say about the year behind us.  New experiences.  New emotions.  New levels of life unlocked, explored, conquered, failed, re-attempted, side-stepped, and…  Well, all the things.

I’ve really enjoyed watching you embrace aspects of school.  I’m fascinated by how different your approach to school is from your big brother’s, and how, then, we are having to change how we teach to match that.  And then your interest in different subjects.  Which makes sense, of course.  But, it’s been as much a learning experience for us this year as I’m sure it has been for you.  Maybe that’s true of all teachers?

I’ve really enjoyed watching you try different sports trying to find one that you truly find joy in.  From swim to track to soccer to trick scooters to street hockey.  Selfishly, I love that you have taken to roller blades and seem to be enjoying playing hockey.  Blading was one of my favorite things to do and getting to strap them on to skate with you now is a joy.  While you haven’t yet joined a hockey league, that is the plan and I’m excited to see what comes of that.

I’ve really enjoyed watching your creativity flourish between your endeavors in acting to creating your own versions of games and your entirely own games.  Your mind is a wonderful thing and I am always looking forward to seeing what it comes up with next.  I was absolutely floored by your performance as one of the weird sisters from MacBeth this month.  You had kept so many aspects of the performance hidden from us.  You changed your voice.  You took on the persona and you became the character.  It was amazing.  And I hope you continue exploring these creative outlets you have glommed onto.
And then what?  What new interests will the next year hold?  Will you still be battling pokes in your free time?  What new acting roles will you take on?  Will you have joined a hockey team?  What deep dive from history will you have gone on?  Only time will tell, of course.  And I’m not trying to rush that time, I’m just excited for you. 

And, I’m excited to see your maturity growth in the year ahead too.  As your understanding of how the world works increases I hope that helps your navigation of the family dynamics here in the Kingdom, I hope that helps you carve a bit more emotional stability.  I know things have been tough on you this year.  I’m sorry about that.  I’m sorry there isn’t an easier way to grow.  Sometimes we just have to live to learn, and fail to succeed.  Life is funny like that.

The whole Kingdom is here for you.  Have an amazing year.

Happy birthday, Littler Prince

Love,

Daddy/Matticus/The Jester

A very belated four

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Dear Littlest Prince,

This is four.  And has been for a while.

Did I write you a letter when you turned four?  I don’t remember…

So, you’re either getting this late or you’re getting a second one.  That’s how it goes in the kingdom sometimes.  Chaos rules the days and the nights.

And you are a huge part of that chaos.  You have more gumption than any single four year old should.  And you are so wonderfully mischievous.  You certainly know how to keep the Queen and I on our toes.  Your antics…  Well, we thought we had our hands full with the Little Prince because he was (sing-song) “nonnnnnnnnnnn-stop”, but we didn’t even know how much more we could be dealing with.  And now we do. 

And then you laugh, and it splits into a thousand points of light, skittering away becoming faeries or something like that.   And then maybe those sprites whisper into your ears and you are off and running headlong into the next…  the next antics, the next mischief, the next laugh, and the cycle repeats on and on from the moment you wake until the moment you finally pass out, one tired and happy little.

As much work as you add to the Kingdom every day, it’s worth it.  It’s a joy watching you grow and learn and push barriers and experiment and play, play, play.  Your imagination is wonderful.  It makes me remember the days would I could lay on the floor and create worlds out of cars and action figures and nothing more than a piece of cardboard.  I hope you hold onto the ability for a very long time.

And then in the next moment you are outside running to keep up with your two big brothers, determined to out scoot them, out shoot them, out throw them, and sometimes you do.  Because you are a force.  And sometimes you don’t and you are on the ground tantrumming because life isn’t fair and, again, because you are a force.  And then you are up and running again until someone goes down with a cut or a scrape and then you are the first to get the band-aid and put it on them.  Because you understand the magic of a band-aid and taking a moment to ensure everyone is okay.  Because you are a force of empathy and energy and and and all the things.

And you are loved by the whole Kingdom.

But this letter is from me, Daddy, the Jester, Matticus.  And I can’t wait to see what the years ahead hold for you.  What are you going to do with your gumption?  What mountains are you going to move?  What places are you going to explore? 

I’m going to love every minute of this adventure you are on.

As I love you.

Happy Birthday, my Littlest Prince.

May you have a wonderful year.

Love,

Daddy/Matticus/The Jester

Question of the week 52

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And we’ve made it to the end of the year.  Fancy that.  52 weeks of questions.  (Technically there is one more Monday in the year but I won’t be posting next week.) Thanks for coming along for the ride this year.  As of the writing of this question I’m not sure what I’m planning for 2025.  I tried to be a bit more wordy with the questions here near the end and enjoyed coming up with some of the emotions behind them, so, perhaps I will try to do a bit of fiction or non-fiction each week…  Or, maybe I’ll stick with the questions…  or, maybe I’ll disappear again for a while.  What do you think?  Did you enjoy this year of questions?  Or would you rather go back to my sporadic fiction posts?  Or?  I’m listening.