Today was the first full day that you spent no longer the only child.
Your baby brother, Adin Joseph Mayo arrived home yesterday, Monday, June 5, 2023. Your initial reaction was beautiful. You were so excited to meet your little brother. All you wanted to do was look at him and touch him. And even on day two, I don’t believe your feelings for him have changed. You love your brother. You didn’t love his crying at first, but you quickly got used to it.
However, I can’t help but notice that you acting differently today.
I notice a change in you, my beloved son, and I can’t tell if it’s superficial because our daily rhythm has been temporarily messed up—or if it is much deeper.
Part of me believes it is simply because you are tired, and your mother and I have been gone away from you for two days at the hospital.
When we are gone for longer than a day from you, I notice that you behave differently for a few days following our return.
I think this is your way of coping with missing your parents.
However, there’s another part of me that definitely believes something inside of you that has changed. But not in a bad way. In a good way.
Perhaps it’s a coincidence, and you just happen to be maturing more right as your little brother enters your life. Or maybe there is a connection. That’s a question I don’t know the answer to yet.
But in any case, I notice today how much you are maturing into a strong young boy. You are 3 and a half right now, which means you are phasing out of the “toddler” stage. With this comes new outlooks on the things of life. New emotions. New feelings. New perspectives. New likes and dislikes.
I appreciate this change happening in you so much. It’s a weird feeling. Part of me wants you to stay my tiny baby boy forever. When I think of holding you, kissing your soft cheeks, squeezing your face, and laying next to you as you play on your iPad at night, I adore these moments so much. And part of me is terrified of the day when I can no longer do these things. It makes my heart break.
However, at the same time, there’s another part of me that’s pulling in the opposite direction. I want to see you continue to grow, mature, and excel as a strong young man who can stand on his own two and conquer life.
This is the constant battle that a parent faces. And it’s a beautiful thing.
I love you so much my beloved son. Today we spent some time alone together. I took you to Starbucks and I got a coffee, you got chocolate milk. We then went to our new house on 174 Cramerton so that I could drop off a few things. We played there a little but before leaving to head back home.
I appreciate my time spent with you so much. You are incredibly smart, funny, brave, strong, wise, patient, courageous, empathetic, and a true gift. A champion, You are special my son.
Until next time my beloved son. Don’t ever stop loving yourself, and don’t ever forget who you are. You are Elisha James Mayo. A dear child of the Most High God. You were brought into this world, not by accident.
Because even though yes, it’s true, your mom and I specifically planned to have you, you were not an accident even in the slightest—more importantly God chose to have you. And you were brought into this world for a purpose. A purpose bigger than you could ever understand right now, but one day you will.
I love you, baby boy, until next time.