Little Man is Officially a Teenager!

Dear Little Man

I can’t believe I have been writing these letters to you for so long now. Each year seems to go by quicker than the last and it feels like yesterday you turned twelve. But now, you’re a teenager. A gorgeous, clever, funny, teenager. I could not love you more.

You’re now in Year 8 at school, and doing your best, but also finding the subjects you really love and the ones you could easily give up for life! French really isn’t your favourite and you’re looking forward to dropping it as soon as you can.

On the other hand, you love science and space. You were sad when your science teacher changed – with the new one no longer being as inspiring for you as your previous one – but you spend a lot of your free time working on space games and apps, designing rockets and space shuttles and working out the exact specs they need to do whatever you want them to do. You’re so clever, and when you enjoy something but are also good at it, it really is a joy to see. Your passion for space will always be inspiring.

You still love Lego more than anything, and each time new ranges are released you have a long list of sets that you’d like. You’d build Lego every day if you could. You are constantly talking about your favourite Lego sets, which ones you need next and the things you wish Lego would create.

Actually, you are constantly talking. Whether I’m making dinner, sitting on the sofa with you or walking down the street, you will chat to me constantly about Lego, new VR games, TV shows and anything else that pops in your head. It’s like you save up everything you want to talk to me about and then let it all out in one go. It reminds me of our old school runs at primary school, where you’d talk constantly. Please, never stop talking to me like this.

You have grown up in so many ways this year. You wear a lot less colours – no rainbow splashes of colour for you any longer – and have clear likes and dislikes where clothes are concerned. You will now only wear sports socks, won’t wear jeans or denim of any kind, and don’t like anything that feels remotely different. As your sister would say, you don’t like being textured!

In other ways you are still so young, and I hold onto those glimpses of the younger child that you once were. You still collect Jellycat bunnies and often carry them around the house with you. You love a cuddly toy and have got the whole range of Yeeps plushies that match the characters in your favourite game.

You’re also still quite fragile emotionally at times. Getting upset over little things and not having as much resilience as your peers. But, it’s what makes you, you. And, if you need an extra cuddle every so often I won’t be complaining.

You are different to other kids your age. You are often an introvert. You like the things you like and don’t have much time for anything else. You’re not great at small talk or being sociable unless it interests you, and you have to really know people before you let them see the real you – the cheeky, funny, intelligent little dude that we know and love.

You have a handful of people in your life that are lucky enough to know you like this and I am so glad to be one of them. I know, as life goes on, anyone will be fortunate to be in this inner circle of yours. Knowing you properly brings me real joy and it’s something I will never stop appreciating. I hope as time goes on you let more people in, and open yourself up to more people. You’re an awesome person to know and I’m sure there are a lot of people who would love to know you better.

That said, you have a group of friends who you are yourself with. But, you’re mostly happy seeing them at school or playing online games with them. You’re sociable when it works for you and within your own boundaries. I love that for you.

You have grown so much over the last year. You’re now a good few inches taller than me – 5ft 8 and have size 8.5 feet. You will always be my little boy but you’re really not that little anymore.

The last year has been full of adventures for you. We went to Dubai last summer and you made friends with so many cats whilst we were there. Plus, we went up the tallest building in the world which you still talk about.

We had a great holiday to New York and Washington – and went up the tallest building in the USA. You love ticking things like this off some mental list and I will always go out of my way to experience life with you. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, I’m happy to be by your side and I love that we’ve instilled in you a love of travel and adventure.

Little Man, you have some big years ahead. Next year your sister leaves school, you’ll be by yourself and heading towards GCSEs. But, for now, you’re in those interim years of just doing your best, with no big changes. I hope you enjoy this lull before the bigger years.

Oh Little Man. You are one of my most favourite people. You bring me so much joy and it’s a pleasure to be in your life. I love spending time with you and you never fail to make me smile. You are awesome.

Happy Birthday Little Man. You are the best 13 year old I know and cannot wait to see where your teenage years take you. Never forget how incredible you are.

We love you.

Mummy and Daddy x