Today, you are 11. You started this whole thing, bud. My dream of being a mom came true the minute we found out there was you. And once we got through the first six colicky weeks of your life, you were the easiest baby. And then you were the easiest toddler and preschooler and then you grew into becoming a pretty easy elementary-aged boy. We've never once had a behavioral issue with you at daycare, school, sports. In fact, the complete opposite. Every single year since you started school, we've been told how great of a role model and leader you are. Yours is a quiet leadership. You lead by example and restraint and often very little words. This year, we've seen that more than ever before.
Because this past year, more than ever, we've seen the change in you. The change that shows us you're becoming a young man. It's hard on my heart sometimes because these 11 years went REALLY fast. It's cliche to say it, but when I think about having you under our roof for only seven more years I have to catch my breath because that doesn't seem possible. You're growing up in so many ways. You're still such a good kid, but you're craving independence. You push our buttons more, as you try to stretch your boundaries. You no longer allow me to take your picture whenever I want to. When we have large family gatherings, you - the social butterfly that you've always been amongst our family - spend more time downstairs talking to your friends on your gaming headset than you do chatting it up with your nanas and papas. Your mom is having to learn to let go a little bit, and it's hard but I also know it's necessary.
5th grade has been big for you. We've seen you make big decisions and respond to situations this school year in ways that make us so proud of you. You're an amazing big brother to Kaitlyn. In fact, she brings out the softest side of you right now. You want to be cool and tough, and you have come to really shy away from any kind of attention. In fact, just last night your entire extended family sang Happy Birthday to you, and you were so embarrassed by it. I see so much of your daddy in you. You really are his mini-me.
Your poise this past football season, quarterbacking your first tackle team, was something to admire. You never got too high or too low - admitted your mistakes when you screwed up - but never called out a teammate when they were the ones to make you look bad. You hit a mental slump for a bit during this basketball season, but are crawling your way out of it and looking forward to even bigger things ahead on the court very soon. School is not your cup of tea - you just don't enjoy it - and yet you're doing so very well in it.
And though you are growing at rapid speed, you are still very much the Jaden that we've always known you to be. You've never seen a plate of food you didn't like, you still love to be surrounded by people, video games are your favorite past time, your sense of humor and love of laughter is one of my favorite things about you, and though you try to hide it because you don't want to appear less than tough, your heart is a soft one.
We love you, bud. And I will continue to be your biggest cheerleader - even though it's starting to embarrass you, and I have to learn to be a little quieter. :)
