Dear Jonah who is now SIX,

Here is the group that surprised you at your birthday party--there were 19 of us all together, everyone was hiding in a corner of the movie theater, and we saw The Tale of Desperaux. Then we went to pizza after at a great new restaurant a block away. It was such a fun birthday! Here is you, right after we sprung the surprise:

You might just be the biggest six year old that ever lived. You don't mind discussing it, and hopefully we didn't give you a complex when you were a baby and mouths dropped open at the sight of the fat folds hanging *forward* over your knees. What's cool is that the rest of you is catching up--you are pretty comfortable in your body these days. You are tall and slim and handsome.

Sometimes I think back to my Flexed Arm Hang Champion Days--There I would be, my chin over a bar, elbows bent, arms trembling. Hanging for minutes and minutes. Other 6th graders would come to stare, sure I was strong and amazing. The chubby kids dropped like flies after a few seconds. I really didn't have any strength worth noting, it was just that I had a lot less weight to hold up. But you--those monkey bars and climbing ropes have been pretty challenging for a big guy. Which is maybe why you choose instead to do things like throw yourself in the snow and yell "Kung Fu ME!" You have the confidence of the big kid--nobody is going to pick on you, even if you can't do the flexed arm hang or balance a bicycle. You are a total pacifist, but already it has come up that your small friends feel safer in your shadow, not worrying about some bully kid because you could plow them over effortlessly, if you were so inclined. It is funny to have that kid in our family of otherwise skinny little timid-like people. You are hardy and warm and substantial to snuggle with on a cold night. You are sporty with a quick and competitive mind. You are playful and energetic.
We have had words this week, you and I, about Snow Etiquette.
Throwing snow down your sister's coat--not OK.
Kicking a rock hard lump of ice into someone's 2 pound dog--not OK.
Throwing snowballs at buses--ummm, OK as long as you are with our Dad friend who grew up in Queens and knows the cops and knows when to stop.
Kicking snowballs into our lobby--mildly OK (as long as you remove them before they melt). Throwing huge chunks of snow at building walls--OK.
Stomping, rolling, flailing and sliding in snow--OK.
Smashing lumps of snow down subway grates--OK.
Sorry I flew off the handle when you threw a snowball in Simon's face. He didn't even mind, as per your usual relationship with him. But, if you must know, I was tired and cold and didn't want to wait for you and your snow playing stall tactics. I wanted to get home and eat dinner. And to be honest, I can't believe your aim. It is annoying that you hit everything you are trying for, especially when it is one or the other of your siblings who don't love the cold the way you do. And if you yell "Chicken!" to Maya one more time just because she doesn't want to race you or wrestle with you right then, I am going to lose it--that isn't even the right context for "Chicken", but I suppose you will learn that soon enough.
Speaking of learning--you just finished reading your first Magic Treehouse chapter book to yourself. Then a couple days later you read two in one day. In fact, I haven't heard your usual chorus of "I'm bored, there's nothing to do!" since you learned to read chapter books.
You are like a working dog--it is bad to let you get bored, you need a job to do. The past two years keeping you plied with things to do has been wearying, but not doing it took even more effort. Turning six means you can start to come up with your own occupations.
When we toasted you in the kitchen tonight, your last night of being 5, we all said something we appreciated about you. You said you are really glad you can read now.
Turning into a big kid felt like it was a long time coming for you--you were always content to be dependent, and thus far have been in no hurry to grow up. That made you a very happy, easygoing baby and a bit of a challenging toddler. But all of a sudden you have catapulted forward--you seem well beyond your years. Not just your ability in school, which by the way, if we were still in Oregon would be Kindergarten this year. That would be a laughable situation, by any definition. Socially, you are a pretty fun kid to hang out with. The volatility of your 4th and 5th years is gone--you are playful, helpful and enthusiastic. You have a big appetite--for food, for physical play and for time with friends. Also for books, puzzles, movies and games. You are a worthy opponent for any adult in most board and card games and you are a lot of fun to play against. I love that I can tackle you for a snuggle or a wrestle almost any time and you will laugh. I love that when there is work to be done you jump up eagerly to help and work industriously and enthusiastically. When you grow up you either want to be a movie maker or a doorman (because you love movies and you love to help people).
So when I think back to that chilly December night 6 years ago, as I felt you getting ready to be born, I never knew what a Carpe Diem kind of guy you would turn out to be. Yes, I have scary visions of you with a beer (0r 12) at a fraternity party, at the bottom of a football pigpile or gambling all night in Las Vegas with a fake I.D...
But those are all in the future, and here you are, with your rosy cheeks and your sillyness and your earnest questions, right here, right now.
Happy Birthday Jonah!
Love,
Mama