Dear Precious Little One (a.k.a. our fifth bundle of joy),
As I look around our home, it strikes me that I owe you a heartfelt apology. Your parents are feeling quite worn out, if you haven’t already noticed. The energy of your older siblings has taken quite the toll on us, and as a result, we find ourselves offering you our “B” game. You might not realize that there was a time when we were diligent about bedtime routines, refused to let you have PB&J as a go-to dinner option, and only allowed G-rated movies. Unfortunately, those attentive parents seem to have exited the stage a few kids ago.
Instead, your life is a bit of a whirlwind. The older kids often stay up late, and as a result, so do you. Just last night, I found you dozing off on the couch at 10 p.m. while Star Wars played in the background. It made me stop and think, shouldn’t you be tucked into bed? But alas, we were too tired to carry you upstairs. So, I nestled under you, held you close, and marveled at your long eyelashes. I know you’re 5 now, and I probably stopped doing this with your siblings by the age of 2, so I apologize. I can’t help but hold onto your babyhood for just a little longer. You seemed to enjoy it, snuggling in until Dad eventually carried you off for a brief stay in your bed before you crawled back into ours.
I also want to apologize for the constant entourage you have managing your every move. Your older siblings had just Mom and Dad to contend with, whereas you have a whole crew watching over you. It must be overwhelming to be parented by six different people at once! They all adore you — their little brother — and want to be involved in everything you do.
By the time you turned 2, you were hardly ever on your own two feet, thanks to all the willing arms around you. And now, there’s always someone eager to hold your hand or help you reach the cotton candy I’ve hidden atop the fridge. You are in high demand, and I understand that can be a bit much. One of your first phrases was “too much love,” and oh, how true that is! What’s a little one to do with so much affection?
I’m also sorry about your wardrobe situation. While your older siblings had carefully curated outfits, you seem to have a collection of odds and ends. These come from a giant bin of hand-me-downs mixed with a few items I picked up during quick trips to Target. Sometimes, pieces of old Halloween costumes make their way into your outfit choices too. And honestly, I’m often too tired to insist you change out of your football uniform before school, so off you go as is.
We’re still working on you putting on your shoes by yourself, but with so many helpers around, it’s a slow process. I’ve come to realize that parenting isn’t a race to see whose child can do things first. I no longer stress about when you’ll learn to tie your shoes, as long as you’re not relying on your college roommate to do it for you! I’m just relieved you can get yourself dressed, and you seem to feel quite dapper, especially in that Willy Wonka costume your sister gifted you. Maybe I should consider your wardrobe a triumph after all.
I’m also sorry that you can recite every word of “Baby Got Back” and have a favorite episode of The Office. It seems we’ve relaxed our standards when it comes to what you watch and listen to. You may be experiencing a childhood more akin to the ‘80s—where we watched our mom’s soap operas. Perhaps we can label this “retro-parenting”?
In any case, you’ve been exposed to so much more than your oldest sister was at your age. On the bright side, you’re likely to be the coolest kid at the lunch table, unlike your eldest sister who was blissfully unaware of who the Kardashians were in seventh grade. I apologize in advance for when your attempts to enlighten your more sheltered classmates land you in the principal’s office; I may just show up to take the blame!
You are our youngest child, our grand finale. The good news is that the one thing we haven’t exhausted is our love. We’ve learned from our experiences with your older siblings how fleeting this time is, how quickly you will grow, and how essential it is to cherish every moment. So when we hug you a little too tightly, let you linger in your little-ness a bit too long, and shower you with affection, please know it’s all because we cherish you deeply. You’ll grow up enveloped in love, and while we might lean into the convenience of PB&J dinners (and occasionally ice cream), the less-than-perfect TV choices, and inconsistent bedtimes, we hope these experiences create fond memories rather than scars.
With all our love,
Your tired yet adoring parents
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Summary
This heartfelt letter is an apology from a parent to their youngest child, acknowledging the challenges of parenting while juggling the demands of older siblings. It reflects on the relaxed parenting style that comes with having multiple children and the joy of cherishing the last-born child. The parent emphasizes the importance of love, even amidst the chaos of family life.