Letters To My Son: Take A Deep Breath

Dear Pookah,

3rd grade is hard.

Not just the work, but the emotions that go with it.

I get it, you want more independence, you want to have more choices, you THINK you know what you need, what you want and what you want to do.

But listen……

I need you to also realize that your Mama has done 3rd grade before. I need you to realize that I learned multiplication and division too. And that I know about adverbs and verbs and adjectives because I WENT TO SCHOOL BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.

I also need this little attitude that has suddenly appeared to just…go away.

I’m not here for it.

Sometimes, I feel responsible for your lack of patience and understanding. I feel guilty for being a working mom: working ,cooking, and trying to pay attention to you all at the same time.

It’s hard for me too.

But when I feel like we are reaching for a point of no return, I take a deep breath and look at you.

And remind myself that this too shall pass. That underneath all that side eyeing and mumbling under your breath is my sweet boy. The one who loves his mama and still likes to cuddle before bed. The one who tells me he loves me everyday and still rushes to tell me everything that flies through his head.

I take a deep breath, tell you to take a deep breath and we plow on through adverbs and arrays, and reading comprehension.

Together.

Love you.

Mama.