I have been surprised by myself in many ways throughout my life but never so much since all of you have come along.
I remember the extreme ebbs and flows of my emotions at your age toward just about anything whether it was an opportunity to pee off the boathouse at our cottage, the anticipation of a family vacation somewhere or begging for a new bike. Elated and hung up over such things, I didn’t sleep, had butterflies in my stomach and well, I too, latched onto Papou and Baba like a leech from a weedy pond. I recall my childhood and those emotions so vividly and since becoming a father find myself reliving these memories.
In adolescence and beyond, that elation and excitement was not as easily drawn – except of course for the boathouse experience. If I may speculate, you will educate yourself, impatience will be your leading virtue through your teenage years and I expect that at some point you realize that you are not the only one in this world. If there are stages of life this one, childhood, is exploratory.
Since you have come into my world, it has been bliss. And patience has become my virtue.
I am selfishly reliving my childhood with you. How about that race car track I bought you at Christmas that you could barely operate? And the remote control helicopter that you fly like a kamikaze that almost took out the eye of your play-date last week?
It’s not the gifts. It’s the excitement on your faces that have left an imprint on my memory that will stay with me for as long as I am here.
It’s the hugs, kisses, bedtime stories, your attempts to report the events of the day and all of the questions and little things you do to and for me that I will remember forever.
Emotions ebb and flow once again. You have connected the cycle of life for me and now it seems simple.
Mom and I love you, love to be with you and look forward to spending the rest of our lives with you.
Love,
Dad
Written by Paul Jones who is the dad to three boys, ages 4, 3 and 9 months and husband to a beautiful domestic goddess, without whom he would be utterly lost. (Author bio written by said goddess)
4 Mothers 
