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To my son in his last weeks of being 8

Please do not forget that you have:
picnicked on the moon
built and destroyed cities in your backyard
felt wet grass between your toes

Remember: that
people who bake caterpillars in tar are dangerous
but are not bad
that 30 m&m's = 10 for you, and 10 for you, and ...
that you drink the water dinosaurs played in
that rivers cut through mountains
that bees only sting when afraid
that flowers die without water
that the person who brags the most needs compassion
and that compassion is sometimes
5 m&ms even though you really wanted 10 and you've already shared

Please know that:
the person you can best trust
is the one who disagrees with you
but that doesn't mean
you shouldn't hit him back (unless, of course, he is a she)
and no, not everything will be fair
but suck that part up dear child because you
are as beautiful as a single drop of rain

Dear Cate, the way in which you differentiate between 'do not forget that:' and 'remember that:' is most effective; they could be interchangeable, but by dividing them you have emphasized their subtle differences. I especially like remembering:

that rivers cut through mountains
that bees only sting when afraid
that flowers die without water
that the person who brags the most needs compassion

I used to say I wish I could have injected my children with a magic potion to keep them forever five (years old). Their world is still full of wonder then, and their parents are still the love(s) of their lives – at least for those who are lucky enough to live in happy homes. I think my fears were for them, for what the future might or might not have held, and for all of us being 'so lightly here'.

The reverie in these lines and comments are so gently powerful.

Thanks, dear women.

Thank you ladies.

Do you have some of this magic I.F.? I'd be interested
I love the age my children are right now - they're a lot of fun
and I can drag them to places I like to go myself and so far they're
okay with that but I do miss that wide eyed wonder of a 5 year old.
I feel a bit like they're leaving - bit by bit.

Violet, I don't think the kid is actually bad but.... oddly curious,
(it’s a bit creepy though).

'gently powerful' - I like that Lizzy, it would be a good way to be - like water itself.