Dear James,
Why should you take an extra pair of socks when you go golfing? Because you might get a hole in one!
Happy 12th Birthday! It’s hard to believe this is your last year before you are a teenager. You successfully endured 5th grade under strict COVID protocols and now you are on to middle school.
There are many qualities we admire about you, including your ability to know what you want and to stand up for yourself. You are tender and ridiculously funny – you are very witty – which is a form of comedy that combines your humor and your intelligence. We also believe you have strong leadership abilities as you are determined, thoughtful, and inspiring to others. For example, you greatly encouraged a new player on the football team and helped to build his confidence. The middle school football coach has already observed your focus and aptitude that is pushing other players to improve.
In addition to football, you have been golfing with Mimi and Papa. You seem to appreciate this special time away and the chance to continue working on the challenging game that is golf. They have commented on this special time and spoking highly of your kindness.
One of the things that stand out to us is how much you tell it like it is. You say the truth in a way that others would not have the words or the boldness. We will admit we don’t always like to hear the truth as you tell it, but we know this strong sense of conviction will serve you well in life. Sometimes we see this in your bluntness: “You’re not putting the dog to sleep, you’re killing the dog.” At other times we see this in your strong will and your struggle to understand and submit to our authority: “Why do you always tell me to do things when I don’t want to do them?”
We see at times that you can be hard on yourself and get discouraged. It is at these times that we hope you will remember our strong love for and belief in you, and more importantly, the truths of how God loves you and sees many gifts in you. We also wonder if there are times where you feel overlooked. Because you and Thomas tend to have more similar interests compared to Jack and Ellie, you don’t always get the opportunity to shine on your own. Please know that we see you uniquely. We see your hard efforts in school, your amazing grades, your gifts on the football field, and your strong heart for God. You matter so much to us and our family would in no way be the same without you.
As you enter middle school, don’t be afraid to try new things. There will be countless opportunities to challenge yourself. We aren’t so worried about how well you do, but about your willingness to persevere and learn from the experiences you have. Also, make new friends. We pray for you to find the people that encourage you to be your best and that God will also put in your path people who need a friend like you.
We love you buddy!
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T-man,
You’re 12! It’s your last birthday before you hit the teen years. You survived this year where you felt we were “ruining your life” by putting you in the same class as your brothers because of the pandemic. It must have turned out okay because you were honored with awards for both your academic and athletic achievements. But, more importantly, you were recognized for your humility. You are gifted and you are confident, but you don’t have to show off. We greatly admire that about you. Your natural ability, coupled with your hard work will be a powerful combination in life – both on the field and in the classroom.
It was a joy to get to watch you play football again and you have already shown a lot of talent and commitment to the middle school team. The coach has specifically identified that you are one of the the hardest working players on the field. You couldn’t wait to get your helmet and will soon be getting the full pads.
You have endured a few big things, like Savannah passing and going off to a new, longer camp. You are learning how to recognize and process emotions, which is an important skill. We can always count on you to bring energy and enthusiasm to our lives. And, when in doubt (or when forced to go on another hike), bring a ball and throw in some friendly competition.
You love to be around people and are always eager to join friends in the neighborhood. One of the biggest challenges we have is getting you to eat because you are so quick out the door to see your friends that you often will skip a meal or rush to get through it. But people enjoy being around you because of the humility you display. You are inclusive and seek to bring more and more people into your friend group.
Our hope for you as you enter middle school is that you continue developing as a leader. People are drawn to you and respect you. May you have the confidence to lead them to what is right and godly. We pray that you are not swayed by what is cool and popular, but that you would be motivated to honor God and others above yourself. You will be able to influence others to set the tone for what kids should be doing. We hope that your eyes will be attuned to those around you who need a friend. We know that there are many challenges that await in these years, but we are here for you and know you will rise to the occasion.
With so much love,
Mom and Dad
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Dear Jack,
Happy, happy 12th birthday! Today we celebrate you. It’s hard to believe in one more year you’ll officially be a teenager. Congrats on wrapping up elementary school with wonderful grades, good friends, and a big savings account. It’s impressive how much money you have saved and how careful you are with your spending.
You have truly come into your own personality this year. You want to be set apart from your brothers. Even the fact that you have your own room is an example of how you like to do your own thing. Mountain biking, running, and reading are your main passions. Dad had to purchase a mountain bike because he could no longer keep up with you while running on the trails. You were also a huge help to him when he took that big spill, making sure he was able to walk out of the WWC safely.
We have to monitor your Kindle time or you’d read all day. You have shown great determination by practicing with the cross country team even though you may not be allowed to participate in meets. We can both appreciate the tired, but accomplished look on your face at the end of practice. You have already improved in a short time. May that be a good reminder as you face many new things in middle school…with practice and perseverance you make the progress you desire.
Even though COVID threatened to interrupt your fifth grade year, you were able to attend school for almost the entire year…that is until your nose surgery. However, your teacher said that because you had worked so diligently the entire school year you would not have to take one of your tests. That, too, shows how your diligence and perseverance paid off. We are proud of the resilience and courage you showed going through and unexpected and painful medical trial.
At times, this year has been a challenge as you seek your independence and experience times of great frustration toward us as parents. May you never question our love for and acceptance of you. Even when we clash, we know that you have a good heart and that God has a very good future for you.
What will middle school be like? We think the fun teachers and rotating classes will serve you well. We know the workload is high and we pray that you will have the focus and desire to work hard. We are praying for you to grow in friendships and that you will also have grace toward yourself, especially when things are hard.
We are so thankful to have a son as thoughtful, funny, and hard working as you.
Love,
Mom and Dad
The Barry Patch 