to my favorite 4 year old

Dear Simon,

Whatever would we do without our BOSS-child?  You rule this roost and have since the day you were born.  Everything you do is LOUD and bossy and dominant.  You walk around with your shoulders back and your head held high.  You don't need instructions on anything.  You don't need help.  You have an answer or excuse for all of your actions and you never care if people do things a different way.  Confidence is your strength and we all love that about you.

You constantly tell me how excited you are for the new baby because "she's gonna love you".  Of course she is... all women do.  You are quite the ladies man lately, talking about who you want to marry and have kids with.  None of our other boys are this way, so it scares me a little, but not much.  You are sweet to me as well and are always asking me out on "dates"... often, right when you wake up, you will crawl into my bed and ask me if I want to go out on a date with you, even before your eyes are really open.  You say we can go anywhere I want, but that you would prefer somewhere with ice cream cones.

The last place you want to go on a date with me is music class.  You want to go there alone.  Or with Daddy, of course.  Since he's been home from work, Dad has accompanied you to class and you've told me many times that you "always want Dad to be your Mom".  It doesn't hurt my feelings one bit because I know you love me too (where do you think you got all your confidence from, anyway?)

You are still a big mess maker and get into trouble often.  It's hard to punish you because things are never really your fault, but every once in a while, I can get you to apologize.  I am grateful that your disaster messes are becoming fewer and farther in between.  Last week you flooded two bathrooms in one day and that was quite a mess to clean up!  But for the most part you hang with the older boys and do what they do.  Dad takes you to play basketball with the big boys and you have no problem keeping up!  You are also an amazing athlete and can run like the wind and ride bikes for hours without wanting to stop.  You have a lot of energy and enthusiasm and it just needs to be funneled in the right way..  that has been my biggest challenge as your mom, giving you enough outlets to express your amazing talents :)

I often wonder where you're going to end up and what you decide to do with your life.  The other day, while I was talking with your older brothers about what they were going to do to "change the world" we ended up talking about you and how important you are.. and how badly you want to be in charge of everyone around you.  At the dinner table a few weeks ago, you mentioned that you wanted to be President.  Ben told you that it's not easy being President and that a lot of people will hate you and talk bad about you if you're in charge of the whole country.  That didn't phase you one bit, you just said, "That's okay if they hate me.  Anyone who hates me will just have to go to jail."  We all laughed, of course, but I'm slightly afraid you will become the next Hitler.  You have no problem bossing everyone around, including total strangers.  The best part of it all, is that out of ALL people, the only person you are afraid to boss around is your little sister.  You refer to Roma as "sweetheart" and kindly ask her to do something.  If she won't (and most often this is the case) you back off and let her do her thing.  You are slightly afraid of her and she likes it that way.  You don't take her things or make her follow your agenda because she will bite you... and I never get mad at her for that because I love a girl who can hold her own.  The two of you have actually become darling friends and I love to watch you interact.

Lately, we've starting this new thing where you've become my "secret agent".  I ask you to do something and you will if I wink at you.  This understanding is that it's somehow undercover and that you can get it done without anyone else realizing what you've done.  You come back quickly after succeeding in your mission and want to know if you passed the test.  And you always do because you're so good at everything.  Sometimes you have to try a little bit harder, but as long as I wink at you, you'll give it another go.  If I let you know that you didn't pass the test because you were distracted (or just simply didn't want to do it) you will change your attitude quickly and say, "Mom, I will never ever give up." and this usually gives you enough motivation to get the job done.  I love your motto and believe it's something you will live up to your entire life.  You are not a quitter... You will never, ever give up!  That's what makes you a leader.

I know you're only 4, but I want you to know that I admire you and your strength.  I love to be around you and hear about all the ideas you have swarming in your head.  I believe you are gifted in so many ways, and even though you don't care at all to learn your letters or colors or anything else instructional, for that matter, you are brilliant in your own way.  I love to watch you interact with others and believe you will make a difference no matter where you go or what you end up doing.  I am so happy to be your mom and think it's a privilege to interact with you everyday.

Stay out of trouble and remember that you are in charge of your own destiny.

I love you to infinity and beyond,

Mom