I Can Do It

Hi Salem,

It's cold in this garage. The fall always feels mysterious to me, and today was especially surreal for some reason. I was driving home from dropping you off at your grandparents' house when I decided to pull over and listen to some music while staring at the colorful leaves. It was a song called Roads by Portishead. Maybe you can hunt it down someday. That song is something else. 

I was thinking of you while I was driving the long way home. A few nights ago we were laying in your bed reading an Eric Carle book that repeatedly asked the question, "can you do it?" You learned quickly how to shout back "I can do it!", and ever since then you have been carrying yourself a little differently. You help me make smoothies and French toast every morning, but now you're starting to be able to do most of it on your own with little help. You name the missing ingredients and give me instructions to assist you. 

By the time you are reading this it won't seem like something huge to you. You'll be big and doing all kinds of big kid things. But, from your dad's perspective this was really special to see you carry yourself so proudly with independence. This world is yours, my sweet little boy, and all I can promise from myself is to try my hardest to show you love and patience. Those are the only things you need to begin any journey, I hope you remember that. If you love doing something enough, it will eventually reward you for your patience and dedication. You can do it, of course you can do it!

Love,

Dad