letter to jameson at age 18...

we got a notice from jameson's teacher that they're putting together time capsules for the kindergarten class. they asked us to contribute to the materials to be enclosed...a favorite toy, a picture of a favorite thing, a letter from mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, etc. we plan to include a mini lego set - because that's his obsession of late. i also wrote a letter. i'm going to include a copy of the post that i wrote HERE on his first day of kindergarten with my letter.

i wanted to share my letter with you too:

Jameson,
You're winding up your first year of school. Your kindergarten year. You (and I!) have come such a long way since that first day of school. I won't lie, that first day was awful. But, you survived. Thrived even. I'm so relieved. Thankful. Each day since then has been a little better. Even to this day, though, you still ask if you can stay home...if you "have to go to school today??". You like school, you like your new friends, you like your teacher, you like the library and art and music. There are so many things that you like about it...but I think you'll just always be a homebody. You prefer and enjoy being at home, doing your own thing...which usually involves building Legos, begging for new Legos, playing computer games (on the Lego website mostly) or just fiddling around outside. And fighting with your sister. Oh, my, goodness...you guys FIGHT. I'm hoping that by the time you read this, that will have stopped! :) Or at least be quieter? Please?

You have become such a little boy in the past year. All evidence of "baby" or "toddler" or "preschooler" are completely gone. Which I suppose is to be expected. For me, though, it's happening far too fast. You're supposed to read this letter and look through this time capsule when you graduate from high school. I can't fathom how far away, yet how CLOSE that day is as I sit here in 2011 to write this. There will be so many things we will have gone through by then. I'm sure we'll have some really great memories and some that are sooner forgotten. But, you should always know - ALWAYS KNOW - that I will love you forever. No matter what you do, I will always love you with all my heart. You're my firstborn and you hold that very special place in my soul. You're an emotional being (we have that in common). I hope you never lose the innocence of that. I hope you're never afraid to share your feelings. Anyone who says, "boys don't cry" just doesn't GET life. Just be YOU - a genuine you - and you'll do just fine in this world.

You have a steel trap memory! It's uncanny really. Just the other day, I was telling you that I'd take you and your sister to the West Bend Public Library sometime soon. You insisted that you've already been there. Really, you never have. I tried to tell you that and you said, "Yes we HAVE been there. Remember we were there that one time with Grandma?? And, we bought those books? They don't have truck books!" It dawned on me that we had gone to the Waupaca Library once (ONCE!) with Grandma Sherry. In 2009! You would have been FOUR. We'd gone to the basement of the library where they were having a book sale. We didn't really browse the library itself because we couldn't check out books anyway. The books we ended up buying didn't have anything to do with trucks. If we try to toss old toys, we need to find every single little piece of any set you've ever owned because if you find one little tiny piece you will not let up until we find the rest of the set...or the one truck/toy it goes with. Hopefully this memory thing is a GOOD thing and you remember the stuff you're SUPPOSED to too! :)

Really I just want to say that I'm so proud of you. I love you so very much. And, I'm so happy that I get to be YOUR mom. I'm thankful everyday for that. Even when I'm angry at you, even when I'm disappointed, even when I'm missing you...and, ESPECIALLY on days like today!
I love you, Jameson.

Mommy (or Mom, as you probably call me now) :D

i plan to write that last paragraph and salutation out in my own handwriting. i know how awesome it is to see my ancestor's handwriting ... so i want him to always have at least a little of that.

a side note: i really think this idea is the most awesome-est! i truly hope his school does this forever and ever. i don't know what happens to these if the kids move out of the district...but i hope that they share/give them to the parents to pass on to the kids. i may start my letter to natalia early knowing this is coming. i also plan to write a note to jameson's teacher and principal to let them know how much i value this idea and hope they continue it.

if any of you are interested in contributing to jameson's (or natalia's) time capsule, please let me know! i would LOVE to have many contributions and i know both of them would love it too. all contributions have to be turned in by june 3rd, 2011.