Dear Sloan,
Happy 9th Birthday! You’re on the precipice of such change, straddling the line between carefree kid and independent adolescent and it’s been a joy (most of the time) watching you navigate it with such enthusiasm. Your sense of imagination and creativity astound me and though I know it can’t last forever, I love that you still choose imaginary play over just about anything else. Our nightly family games of Clue are some of my most treasured memories and I hope you never tire of our over-the-top portrayals of Colonel Mustard and Ms. Peacock.
Recently, when we told you about Luna’s passing, you literally fell to your knees, allowing your grief to wash over you, only to suggest we write her cards and songs moments later. Your emotional intelligence is profound and your ability to balance such joy while still leaving room for sadness is inspiring. You’ve already started “borrowing” my things – first as hair clips and lip gloss, and most recently one of my tops that you’ve turned into a tunic you wear with leggings. And so it begins.
My favorite memory from this last year was on our last night in Paris over the summer. Your dad was exhausted and had already gotten into bed, but you and I decided to weave through the streets – your sense of direction nearly as bad as mine – until we stumbled onto one of the bridges over the Seine just in time to watch the Eiffel Tower illuminate into a glittery light show. We were hysterical and out of breath, and it was pure magic and there was nobody with whom I would have preferred to share that moment. Thank you for the light you bring into everyone’s lives, for your constant curiosity, willingness to embrace both Olivia Rodrigo and ACDC, and for being the best part of every day. I love you more than the sun, the moon, and the stars. x
