Letter To My Son On His Second Birthday


one mom's letter to her son on his second birthdayDear Luke,

Today, as we celebrate you turning two years old, I find myself just wanting to celebrate you.

Let me explain: Lately I’ve been reflecting on the fascinating way my love for you as shifted over time. When you were first born—in those initial first weeks of helplessness and those speedy first months of development—my love for you was incredibly instinctual. It was a powerful maternal connection.  

I loved you because you were my baby. Or, more accurately, because you were my baby.

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Now you’re two, and it’s occurred to me that my love for you actually goes far beyond your connection to me.

I realize it when you make crystal clear requests for what you want for breakfast. (“Cereal. Berries. More Milk.”)

I notice it when you direct a group game of catch. (“Daddy throw Mommy. Mommy throw Luke. Luke throw Daddy.” Obviously we’re still working on prepositions.)

It’s plainly apparent when you toss the clothes I picked out for you and choose new ones you like better. (Current favorites are t-shirts featuring choo-choo trains or monkeys, and socks covered in footballs or basketballs.)

Letter To My Son On HIs Second Birthday

At two years old, you are separate from me. You are your own unique individual, and—here’s the kicker—you’re awesome.  

As you’ve grown more independent and your specific personality has emerged stronger and stronger, I find myself marveling at how incredible of a person you are. I’ll never know if it’s true or not, but I believe that even if you weren’t my kid I’d still want to play hide-and-seek with you, sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame with you—just hang out with you! You’re that much fun to be around.

letter to my son on his second birthday

 My love for you today is based strongly on who you are as your own person—rather than on the simple fact that you’re my son.

The coolest part about that phenomenon? The realization that it’s only going to keep growing.

As you continue to grow and develop, so will the way I love you. As your likes and dislikes become more nuanced—as you face successes, challenges, and disappointments in life—my heart will expand to new places, too.

And then one day I will wake up and you will be an adult, one that I hope to love not only as a son, but also as a friend.

letter to my son on his second birthday

So I guess my message to you on your second birthday is simply this: You are awesome. Your boundless energy, your sweet demeanor, your creative spirit—it all comes together to make you a truly remarkable little human being.  

I feel privileged to be your mama. From a parent’s perspective, it doesn’t get any cooler than that.

As you journey into the next year—which I’m sure will be the tremendous twos, with some terrible thrown in for good measure—I’m filled with anticipation to watch you become more and more uniquely you. My heart will be right there, growing alongside you, my love spreading to cover every new inch of you.

I love you, my awesome son.

letter to my son on his second birthday Have you ever written your child a letter? 


36 responses to “Letter To My Son On His Second Birthday”

  1. Happy birthday Luke! You make a very perspective observation, Katie – it’s amazing to love your child because they are just an awesome person, separate for you. I feel the same way about my kids and I’ve written letters to both of them about just that. Enjoy celebrating today!

  2. I know the feeling(s)! It’s such a gift to find out that not only do I love my son, I really LIKE him, too. Happy birthday to.your awesome kiddo-and congratulations to.you, too, for.being his loving mama for 2 years!

  3. What a great legacy for Luke to have when he is old enough to read. He is as lucky as you are.

    I have a journal of notes and letters my son and I wrote to each other. It started when he was having a difficult time with bedtime, around age 6, and he kept getting out of bed to ask me one more question. I got the journal for him to write his questions and I would answer them when I went to bed after him. It is a treasure.

  4. What a sweet letter! 🙂 It is a special thing to realize that you like your child for the person they ARE rather than just the fact that they are your son/daughter. Happy birthday to your son!

    I started journals for all of my kids when they were born. I have kept baby books for all of them (I am a bit neurotic about it and they are up to date always – lol) but the journals are for other moments and stories that don’t quite have a place in the baby book. I got the idea from attending a good friend’s wedding. Her mom gave her a journal that she had kept for her since the day she brought her home from the hospital. It was so sweet and touching, and it brought us all to tears. (And actually all of us bridesmaids have since started journals for our own kids.) I have three kids and sometimes it is hard to keep up with them, but it’s worth it to make the effort. I already love going back in them and rereading what emotions I had with some of their “firsts” and remembering some cute stories that I had already forgotten about.

  5. What a great letter to him, expressing how I feel about my son too as he gets older and his personality develops. I love the newborn photo, he’s got eyes for you already. And the one on the beach where he looks like he’s flying or balancing on a balance beam :). The hubs and I both wrote letters to our children for their 1st and 4th birthdays. It was the preface to each of the photo books dedicated to their past year.

  6. Happy Birthday to your son!

    I have a few letters for Susanna. I’ve written far less for this daughter, but most were letters of yearning, of welcoming.

    Now that she’s about 3 months from making her appearance n Earth, I’ve been reminded that I need to write to her, our shining light.

  7. Oh my, this is so sweet and your boy is ADORABLE! I keep a notebook where I write letter so my daughter, I look forward to giving it to her one day.

  8. I think I do write them occasional letters, disguised as blog posts. Or are they blog posts disguised as letters?? I stumped myself!
    I wish I had done this on Des’ second birthday, but it was also Scarlet’s preschool graduation. And I was all up in arms.
    Next year.
    I like to think objectively that if they weren’t mine, what would I think about them? No doubt, these shaggy-haired, fart joke loving kids would charm me.

  9. Ah yes, Katie!! Isn’t it amazing how your heart shifts into a new domain of love as he becomes his own person? It will continue my friend… it gets even more powerful every year!!!

  10. Happy Birthday to your boy! Such a sweet letter. I used to write ones to mine all the time. Haven’t in a while but their birthdays are both coming up so let this inspire me 🙂

  11. What a beautiful post and a lovely letter to your son.

    Happy Birthday to the big two-year-old!

    I’ve never written a letter to my children but I do post things to them on my blog. I’m afraid a letter would turn into a novel!

    Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).

    Wishing you a lovely weekend.
    xoxo

  12. Privileged. That’s exactly the word that comes to mind when I think of my son. I love how our relationship with our children evolves as they grow and become a step closer to becoming an adult. Lovely letter! I did a ‘Countdown To Two’ series on my blog when my son turned two!

  13. I love this sweet letter! I set up an email account for my son and send him emails every few months. I haven’t sent one in a while, so this is a great reminder for me to get typing! We are super into all things Choo Choo, also 🙂

  14. Your letter brought back such great memories!!! I do remember writing my first baby a letter when he turned 2. And I so remember the feeling that I was really falling in love with who he was becoming and enjoying my time with him. Congratulations to the both of you! Happy Birthday!

  15. This is such a sweet letter! Happy Birthday Luke!

    I’ve written letters to my kids (and posted them on my blog) a handful of times, but never kept a journal or notebook. I’ve toyed with the idea of starting an email address for each of them and giving them the password when they turn 18 though.

  16. Happy birthday little you! 🙂 Continue making your parents the happiest people on Earth and you’ll get more of these letters to read when you grow up!

  17. i think its good to be a dad too, i love my son he just turned too speaking in dad dad daddy i love it

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