Little Man is Twelve!
Dear Little Man
I can’t believe it’s time to write this letter already. It feels like yesterday I was writing a letter for your eleventh birthday and yet, here we are. You are twelve!
You started secondary school this year – and are now in your final term of year seven. You were so apprehensive about starting secondary, and the run up to your first day was hard. But, you have taken to it like a duck to water and I think the apprehension was much worse than the reality.
We have had your first secondary parents evening and the teachers all said the same thing – you are awesome, you do your best, are conscientious and just so clever. We found out you have a love of drama, which is something we didn’t expect, and are great at maths and science – things we definitely did expect!
A few teachers did say you need to talk to them more but, as we told them, you are more likely to talk when spoken to. You aren’t one for speaking up, putting your hand up or volunteering information unless you’re in an environment you’re 100% comfortable in. But, when asked, you’ll answer a question, give your opinion or talk freely about things you are interested in.
This isn’t just with school, it’s with life too, and something we are getting more and more used to the older you get. The people closest to you know and understand you. They know how to engage with you and get you to open up and chat to them. But, people who don’t know you so well expect you to be a typical 11/12 year old. You’re definitely not typical, you are full of quirks and we love that about you. We see how rewarding it is for people who take the time to get to know you. They always love you just as much as we do.
At school you are in maths club. The ten children with the highest SATs maths scores were invited to join a club to cultivate their maths skills and, despite some reservations, you have gone every week since the start of the year and are really enjoying it. You’re not keen on clubs, or anything extra-curricular, but you like maths so this doesn’t feel like that much of a chore.
Some of your favourite things about school are school lunch Fridays, as you have a packed lunch the other days, and getting chicken nuggets or loaded fries as a snack on other days of the week. You also love science, history, maths and drama but many other lessons you really aren’t that keen on.
Outside of school you have started to spend your pocket money – which is unusual for you. You’re a saver not a spender but recently you have been researching games and found ones you really want so it’s nice to see you, finally, wanting to spend some money. The latest love is a game called Subnautica – and a Star Wars themed season on Fortnite. Other than that, you still love your VR, playing Yeeps and all sorts of other games.
You love Jellycat Bashful Bunnies and have quite a collection now. They have to be medium ones, with white tails, and you want to collect them all eventually! You pick one to take with you whenever we go away and I love how much joy those bunnies bring you.
Over the last year we have been to Florida, again, and you got to make your very own Droid. That day, with you walking around Hollywood Studios with your droid in a backpack on your chest, has to be one of my most favourite days. All the people talking about your droid – and the awesome photos the photographer took of you and LP in the Star Wars area too. It was a great day and you loved it.
We also went back to Billund to go back to the original Legoland, the Lego House and Lalandia. It was such a great, busy holiday and one that I’m so glad we did before you got too big.
Lego is still a big part of your life and your Lego wishlist is as long as your arm. There are always new sets that you want and you love to build them. But, this year you have also started to make your own Lego creations – Lego figures, stands for the Lego minifigures and so much more. This is always a really thoughtful process for you – imagining something, planning it and finally making it.
You adore Fred and George, and they are definitely some of your favourite things in life. You love it when Fred sleeps on your bed and each evening you walk around the house, finding the cats and saying goodnight to them both. You love them so much. But, we do still talk about Leia and how much we miss her. She was your first real loss and, nearly two years later, you still feel it so deeply.
You have grown so much this year and are very nearly as tall as me. You are in the right size clothes for your age – although we do find clothes are often too big around your waist to be long enough in the leg. You’re a slim little thing! You’re now in size 6.5/7 shoes and have just two milk teeth left – one of which is being very stubborn in coming out!
Your love of Prime drinks has diminished this year but you still love Mint Aero chocolate, chicken nuggets, pasta and pizza. You have simple tastes when it comes to food but you do try new things and I’m always so proud of you for giving things a go.
You don’t really come into bed for a cuddle any more but you will give me a hug at random times of the day, will snuggle with me whilst we watch TV and will hold my hand when we’re out on a walk. I love how close we are and I definitely miss the school runs, where you used to chat to me about all sorts of things. Instead, you now talk to me at random times – whilst walking into town, making your packed lunch or when we’re just relaxing. I love those moments of unfiltered chatter.
Little Man, you are a joy to be around. I wish more people knew the real you, because you are awesome. You are the best twelve year old I know and it is a privilege to be one of your trusted people and your safe space. I could not love you more and you are growing into such a wonderful young man, full of kindness, humour and knowledge. Please, never change.
Happy Birthday Little Man. Another year older, another year of learning and another year of being so wonderfully you. You light up our lives and we are so incredibly lucky to have you.
Love always
Mummy and Daddy x
