My sweet Owen,
The first half of your tenth year was one of my favorite stages of your childhood so far. You leaned into who you are, worked hard to achieve your goals, and continued to develop your leadership skills.
There were these magical months when you were truly living out the values we’ve instilled in you. You made significant academic progress, stayed close to your core group of friends, and excelled during the spring lacrosse season. You gave 100% effort at every practice and were a true leader on the team. One day, you stayed home sick from school. Our rule is: if you don’t go to school, you don’t go to activities. But that afternoon, when you started feeling better and I reminded you of the rule, you said, “Being a leader means showing up for your team whenever you can. And I can! I feel better.” I couldn’t argue with that.
Just after lacrosse season ended, you signed up for the school geography bee and placed second. I’ll never forget the joy on your face when you realized it was down to just you and one other contestant. The whole gym smiled with you as you pumped your arms in victory. You put tremendous effort into school this year and remain impressively self-motivated to learn.
Over the summer, you attended a canoe and kayak camp, which led to an invitation to join the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team—a shiny new opportunity you accepted with bounding enthusiasm. You also played in a summer lacrosse league and attended an overnight lacrosse camp. But after all of that, you felt burned out and much more excited about the fresh challenge of canoe racing.
In the fall, you joined a select lacrosse team but promptly decided you hated it. There were arguments before every Sunday practice, and your attitude—on and off the field—was tough. It was hard for Daddy and me. We thought lacrosse was the sport for you. After eight years of soccer that never really clicked, you’d been fully engaged on the lacrosse field. We went all in as a family—something we hadn’t done before. But the Sunday night struggle began to take a toll on our relationship. Still, we went to two tournaments in November, which you enjoyed somewhat. It was a fun new experience for our family, feeling out the tournament vibe. Ultimately, we learned that seasonal sports—rather than year-round commitments—work best for you, and select sports probably aren’t our path right now.
You sometimes struggle to find books you enjoy but love reading when you land on the right one. Katherine Applegate was your favorite author this year, but Ground Zero by Alan Gratz topped your list. You’ve discovered a love for historical fiction—just like me.
I can see teenage changes emerging—big emotions and difficulty regulating them in the moment. But you’re incredibly self-reflective and always willing to apologize and consider what you could have done differently once you’ve calmed down. As the firstborn, you’re used to making decisions and getting your way, and Daddy and I have worked hard to make sure everyone gets a turn—which has been hard for you. Your relationship with your siblings has been a bit rocky at times, but you're working on treating them with the same kindness and respect you show your friends.
You’re open with your thoughts and emotions, and I’m so grateful. A big parenting moment this year came when you asked about a particularly awful word. It was hard for me to say it out loud and explain it, but I want you to always feel safe asking questions. I’ll always tell you the truth.
At the end of your birthday, you lay in bed and cried because it felt like just another day. You said you appreciated all the things we did to make it special, but you still had to go to school—and the rose-colored glasses of childhood birthdays are starting to fade. I remember feeling the same way about Christmas around junior high. These are the small, unfair truths of growing up.
You feel strongly that kids your age shouldn’t have cell phones and have zero interest in social media. You still love being outside—hiking, swimming, skiing, biking, tossing a ball. You learned to wakeboard this summer and absolutely loved it. You’ve started collecting baseball cards, and going to a Mariners game was a highlight of your year. Your fierce loyalty to family remains a defining trait.
My love and pride in you are unwavering. Our family is a place to learn, grow, and make mistakes, so when you go out into the world, you bring your best self—which you consistently do. You are a kind, respectful, and confident young person who deeply trusts himself. I love spending time with you and am endlessly proud of you.
You are an incredible human, and I’m so grateful you’re mine.
xoxo,
Your Loving Mama
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