An Open Letter to Hayden

Dear Hayden,

I want to thank you for blowing me a kiss and smiling at me as I left you this morning at the playground at daycare. It helped me remember that I am still your mommy and you don't hate me even though I leave you three days a week. Leaving you is hard every day--I thought it would get easier with time, but it hasn't.

Thank you for being so good at our friend's birthday party last night. You played quietly with toys in the other room for an hour without even being asked, which allowed me to pretend to take credit when a friend leaned over and said "You have the perfect child!" (I conveniently didn't tell her about your occassional melt-downs and tantrums, but I am convinced that these are generally the result of your parents letting you get overtired). Thank you for being so patient while we shared a plate of cake and ice cream--you didn't even whine when it was my turn for a bite.

I promise I was not taunting you with candy at dinner tonight. I felt it was time we work on your understanding of "if, then" statements, so I was trying to explain that "If you eat this last bite of macaroni and cheese, then you get to eat this candy." I know you were sad that I didn't give you the Smarties outright, but I really couldn't keep a straight face when you opened one eye as you were fake crying to make sure that I was looking.

I am grateful for your inherently sweet disposition--I did not give you that, you just came that way and it is who you are. I feel so lucky that of all the people in the world, I get to be your Mommy and see your cute face every day. My heart is full.

Love,
Mom