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Dear Alex,

Happy 21st Birthday!  Typing this feels unbelievable as it is inherently American to believe that a person is a true and complete adult when he reaches the age of 21.  (Of course, us mamas like to hold onto the fact that your prefrontal cortex wont fully develop for another four to five years, which means, thankfully, that you will still need us.) 

And yet there has been tremendous growth over this past year.  When you turned 20, I was intimately involved in the day-to-day aspects of your life.  It was a privilege to talk to you daily about general nonsense aka "stuff and things".  The reality was that the daily check ins were a necessity to combat my own fears, to make sure I was doing my job as a parent to help you grow into a healthy and content adult.  I am still here, a year later, to catch you if you fall, however you have learned the skills, you have the skills to catch yourself.  So far there hasn't been a stumble, or maybe there has been, but I am unaware because of these skills that you have worked hard to master.

One day I woke up and you were more Alex than you had ever been.  You are interested and interesting.  You are funny and smart as hell.  You are kind.  You have drive and passion.  You have unshakeable faith.

You have chosen a career path of elementary education.  I do believe that you will be the teacher that kids will talk about when asked later in life who was the one that had a positive impact on their lives.  You will change the world, one well-adjusted, big thinker/learner at a time.

Alex, you are an adult, you are my kid, you are a cool person to spend time with. And it's normal that I am no longer as much a part of your day-to-day life. You are a car talker - that's when you get chatty and call me - but don't drive very often. I love those chats about stuff and things.  I can feel your ease across the phone lines. You have such a fantastic sense of self.  

And yet, your mom still worries - will he be content, will he achieve, will he be successful, will he have loving relationships and (Jewish) kids of his own.  It's your journey, not mine; I am doing my best to let it happen to be excited about your choices, your definitions of success and love and contentedness.  It's easier than I thought it would be, we are fairly aligned in our thinking that the straight A's you got last semester, and the choice of caring, sweet, funny, smart girlfriend are GOOD choices and also, your choosing NOT to talk to me about the daily goings on of your fraternity pledges is ALSO a good thing.

Adding a bunch of random photos from the past year for posterity.










I'm not crying, I swear! I. LOVE. YOU.

Mom

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