To 13 Year Old Will

William Jackson - this past year has been quite a year for you. 

 

 

 

You got braces - one of the first steps into "teendom."

You earned the "Most Improved Student Award" in your pod.

You started 7th grade.

You signed up for choir and actually SANG in your first choir concert.

You came out of your basketball shell and played fiercely this year.

You also continued your pestering streak.

I'm having a hard time believing that you are now a TEENAGER!  I still think of you like this:

When the nurses handed you to me, my first thought was that I had given birth to Kevin!  You looked exactly like your Daddy and you still do - two peas in a pod!

It's so fitting for the two of you to have the same birthday -  you like the same things, you have more fun together, you look alike - how rare is it that a father and son have the same birthday?

So, if I could give you any advice for being 13?  I'd want you to do 13 better than I did.  I'd tell you  to avoid bad perms, short/long hair dos and blue eye shadow, but I don't think I need to worry about that.  I went into 13 as a shy, zero-confident girl who was happy to blend in with the walls.  You are quite the opposite.  Even though your teachers tell me you are very quiet in class, I notice that you are outspoken with your friends - not in an obnoxious way, but you stand up for what you believe, and you stand up for others.  Your classmates respect you.  You are polite and respectful.  You may have the messiest room in the history of the world, but I can teach you to be clean.  Oh I hope I can teach you to be clean!  What I can't teach you is to have a good heart.  You have to be born with that, and thankfully, 13 years ago I was handed a little boy with the sweetest heart ever.

13 is bringing lots of new things for us.  In a few months I have to register you for junior high (I will need multiple tranquilizers for that).  You will have to choose sports teams, and make decisions about academics for your future.  You know what?  I'm not worried.  Well, not a lot.  I'm your mother and I'm required to worry a little.  What I do know is that you are equipped to be one wonderful young man, and I couldn't love you more. 

Happy Birthday William Jackson Harvey!