For Leo: You Do Not Have to say the Letter "S" with such Finesse

My Dear Child,

    I don't know if you realize how much you are loved. I write to you with tear-filled eyes. I love you so very much. Your Daddy loves you as much as I do. I think you ~are~ aware. I hope so!

     I realize you do not *have* to do all the amazing things you do. You don't *have to* say the letter "S" with such intense finesse; you don't even have to read so well. But you do. You do not have to know all the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody," to Kate Bush's and Amy Winehouse's Music, to Doors Songs. If you would rather listen to children's songs, we would not be offended. You learned your alphabet when you were three! 

   Every Morning, you wake up, you dress yourself  (Daddy still helps you tie your shoes, but I see you are working on it; soon you will master that, as you do everything which comes your way.)

   I believe: your Soul is old. You had finished your work, and you landed with us to teach us a few things.

     Mommy has always been a Joyful person, amazed that my LifeTime here is realized, grateful!! You have helped me to grow, to understand who I can be, but only if I persevere. You and your Daddy have taught me how to be more patient. You have taught me to be kinder. From your example, I have learned to move a bit more slowly, to enjoy my precious Moments even more. You have even helped me to see the Joy in darker Moments. 

  You do not have to say the letter "S" with such finesse. You needn't accomplish all these tasks, which could appear difficult; but you do so anyway, because you are driven. You never give up! I have never met a person so amazing as you, Leo!!

   I would never push you if you didn't want to, but you love a challenge, like your Mommy and your Daddy. You have your Dad's technical expertise and his Joy, his patience, his intelligence,  and his obsessive drive to complete any task which is set before him. You love cars and driving, like your Daddy! You tell us you'd someDay like to own a big, blue car. I will buy it for you! You possess computer abilities and photographic skills which I shall never claim. You have your Music, from your Mommy *and* your Daddy. You have your Mommy's free and trusting nature, as well as her wide smiling eyes. Like Mommy, you love language; you practise your English word pronunciation almost obsessively, the same way your Mom learned Spanish. You watch TV in Spanish, even though your first language is English. You may have been excluded from studying Spanish in school, but you decided to learn it anyway. I am so proud when you greet Spanish-speaking children at the playground with "Hola".  I heard you last Night, while you were in your room, practising "Soy Leo."

You have your Daddy's beautifully colored British eyes. 

You love people, like both your parents. And we love you.

     Leo, you are *you*. You have *yourself,* and your *self* is beautiful. I want your Life to be full of Joy. People expect you are happy all the time, but we know that is untrue. You have many moods, as all people do. The only thing different about you is that you have a little bit extra, in the form of a chromosome. When you are a little bit older, you shall understand that more.

     Please take a rest when things seem too much; everybody else does; why shouldn't you? Be Leo. You are the only Leo on this Earth. Be You. I am so grateful to you for Being, and for Being with me on this Journey.

   With all my love always, CherylFaith ("Mommy") 

ps  I fell in love with you the Night you were conceived. No accident that you are a Valentine's Day baby. 

pps July 2015... "Your letter "s" finesse" has improved to an even greater extent. Your speech is fabulous, as is everything about you, my love. You are growing into an amazing young man in so many ways...You are, now, eleven years old!