When a mama's baby turns 10...

Something happens to a mama when her oldest hits double digits. Ten. 10. Happiest of tenth birthdays. My heart has been outside of me for a decade now. My dear sweet Keegan, words cannot even describe my love for you, my pride for you, my hopes for you, my dreams for you. I am not quite sure how it can be that you are now 10. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday, the weeks, months, and years that followed like they were happening right now. The excitement for the future, your future, intertwined with the yearning of the past. How I wish to relive moments and phases, sometimes thinking of the things I wish I had done differently and other times just wanting time to stand still. You, my boy, a mama’s boy through and through, are all I dreamed you would be and so much more. Of course I think you are gorgeous and smart and athletic and kind, but I also am amazed, although not surprised, at how much you are admired and respected by others. Whether it be your peers or your elders, you seem to light up a room and people gravitate towards you. When you have a goal in mind or a task at hand, you put full effort. You are a leader. You have a thirst for knowledge. You have a love of being active. You have a desire to be your best self. You have the best laugh. You have a sense of humor, in that dad-joke kind of way that can only make others smile and chuckle right along with you. You are not afraid of a challenge nor are you afraid of being different. You were born to stand out and to make a difference in this world. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful things you will do as you grow older, but time, please stand still a moment more. This mama just wants to hold on to her baby a bit more.