Dear Jasper,
Yesterday, you turned three months of age. You and I have officially concluded what some folks like to call the 4th trimester. (Since I’ve always been rotten at math, I’m totally cool with that erroneous vernacular.)
It’s appropriate, too, that around the age you’ve biologically been deemed fit to come out of the cocoon of my embrace (just the teensiest bit), Mother Nature has also given the (sort of) okay for the weather to ease up- which allows you to come out of the cocoon of your hoodie and lion hat (just the teensiest bit).
Lay it on me, sister.
You will always- always– be my baby. (Mariah Carey said it best, up to and including that riffy little “do do doo, dah” part.) However, now that you’re practically a man, there’s more than one truth you’re ready to learn about the world.
Namely, that it’s always changing. Who knows this better than you, kid? Between your diapers, outfits, and whims of your sisters (do we draw on his face or roundly ignore him?), the only constant is change. You’ve gotta be cool with this. Weather patterns, political powers, “it” restaurants, and fledgling relationships- you need to roll. But while you may not always be defined by your Chicago neighborhood or current hairstyle, you can depend on some things. For one, that your family will always, always love you and think that you’re terrific. Secondly, those five foot-high spiky Mohawks look terrible and will never be a flattering style. So please don’t do that to yourself. (I endured a never-ending pregnancy for you, little man. Give me this much, okay?)
The world is inherently good. It really is, kiddo. That said, it’s tremendously terrible at times. More often than we even have the capacity to know, sadly. But I choose to believe that the good outweighs the bad- or at the very least, the good people outweigh the bad. Guess what, slugger? It’s up to you to join their ranks as one of the Good Guys. (Okay, sure, not right this moment- I need you to keep working on neck strength and solo napping- but youth is not an excuse, and that’s my point.) And “good” is where you find it…and create it. Love begets love, all that. Listen, your Dad’s the hippie- not me- but I think you get what I mean.
And Jasper, my love, this bizarre world is exactly what you make of it. For example, a few nights ago I read two articles in the same half hour span: a sad and confusing story about the continued search for a missing Malaysian flight, and a compilation of 77 facts which, despite sounding totally bonkers, are quite true. (Did you know that humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas?) The lesson here is that there is so much. SO. MUCH. And one person’s immediate tragedy can get skimmed with semi-interest on a reader’s way to an article about the ten weirdest places to lose your iPhone. I’m not saying that you need to fully absorb all of the news everywhere, ever, but I think there’s a balance between that and being so completely removed from the fact that these articles concern living, breathing, grieving human beings. So be informed, pick and choose your media carefully, and keep the mindlessness to a minimum, yeah? (She says on her blog, sigh.)
I think that’s enough for now, my Roo. Between this info and the all-too-real limitations of tummy time, I’m sure your mind is reeling. But I think you’ll be okay. After all, you’re wickedly intelligent, physically advanced, and empathetic as the day is long. And if anyone ever questions that, they’ll have your mother to answer to.
That’s another thing you need to know about the world.
Love always,
Mom
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