Dear Tyler, You're 12!

 Dear Tyler, You're 12!

You're a selfless yet confident kid. You're smart, agile, secure, silly, and know how to read a room. Sometimes you choose not to read the room and get slap happy at the dinner table and crack us all up or get sent to the garage (depending on our mood and you level of respect), and you're awesome. 

You are frugal with others' money. You don't really have your own money since we don't do an allowance or give you big birthday parties and you don't have a job, but you respect money. You got a wallet with money from Grandma and Grandpa. We gave you some cash for your birthday too so when you do want something, you'll have some funds to support it. 

Vicki Crew (AKA Mamaw), takes you to Publix (and often to McDonald's) on Fridays with Ivy her granddaughter, Julia, Everett, and Clara and you try to talk Ivy out of spending all of her grandma's money. You get one thing and are respectful. Dr. Brayer paid you and Julia $100 between the two of you in Target gift cards for cleaning her roof. It was so hot and dirty and you endured two little rain showers while doing it. Julia did a little bit of the work but you said that you could each get $50 to spend (you did 95% of the work.) You agreed to get paid but not a dollar amount and appreciated it and Julia was there and did what she was asked too, so you thougth splitting it down the middle was fair since the card was to the two of you. After talking, we decided you could have 3/4 of it. But we went to Target, Ivy came too, and Julia spent over $50, then you were going to buy Ivy a big rubber ducky AND a surprise toy thingy with your portion of the money but she switched out the duck for another toy. It was interresting b/cyou wanted to gift her the duck to add to her rubber duck collection so you were willing to spend your gift card on that specificlly but she wanted to not get that and spend the dollar amount on some other toy. To you, it wasn't about allotting her a certain dollar amount although black-and-white, it was a dollar amount, but she thinks differently. I saw that you felt unappreciated - that she didn't like the gift like you thought she would. You still gave in since it wasn't worth attempting to explain it since she didn't see it that way. So you ended up spending only like 25% of the $100 including spending money on Ivy b/c you got yourself one or two Rubik's cubes for yourself. So we have some of a gift card left and you were still generous. You were completely happy with your decision. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and contentness. I like watching you kids think and work through things. 

Ivy is your best friend. You two both love playing. She loves shopping and you'll go along for the ride. She loves making Youtube shorts and you'll participate or give feedback. You both like soccer and playing in the water and searching for treasures and exploring. You both love your pet dogs. 

There's a story of when you two went around the neighborhood after we went to the zoo on St. Patrick's day to make money. You did it a little deceptively, but made like $100. Impressive. Creative. but not fully honest - you asked for donations for the Celtic soccer club. I saw you wearing green for St. Patrick's Day. You saw it as an opportunity. Or you and Ivy did. Julia ratted out your plan. So funny. 

Dear Isaac, you’re 17!

Dear Isaac, 

You’re smart, popular, confident, resourceful, strong, use strategy when planned, have the best laughing smile, and still get what you want, for the most part. 

Today you woke up and ate your cinnamon crunch bagel and walnut cream cheese by yourself. Dad had told me in bed he got bagels and would attempt to wake you up. The house was still quiet so I didn’t have my brain turned on enough to go down before. You’re kind and don’t want to be disappointed so asked for a birthday breakfast dad could get you. Steven came back up and was on his phone texting Dylan about Raff’s info if she is going to Uncle Jonathan’s wedding with us then I said something about you and he said you’re eating. What?! I went down and Tyler and Julia were on the big chairs on devices and you were sitting at the table on the other side of the “happy birthday” balloons banner with your crown on almost done with your orange juice and bagel. How sad though! It was a Sunday and we were all available to see you and eat with you and you sat by the wall and we didn’t go eat with you! 

We went to church. We went to H2O and got boba tea, fruit “tea”, a smoothie, and shaved ice 🍧 for your lunch. 

I had taken you shopping the day before and you found 3 jackets at the thrift store and some 1 Million cologne that I got with my Macy’s gift card a patient gave me a year ago for Christmas. It was some “Thrive in 2025” day at Dillard’s so you and I talked to the vendors. A chiropractor told you your head weighs 50 lbs because you hold it in front of you. So you’re going to work on your posture now.

I ordered you a camera card, card reader, and camera batteries charger but the charger is the wrong size batteries  those gifts came in the afternoon so you had nothing to open at breakfast. We did ask you and suggest things to do or get leading up to your birthday but said no to them. I think you will go hang with Dylan though in 2 weekends. The Shaba concert was cancelled. 

For dinner Julia and I met you at Mullet’s. You and I both got fish tacos. We for wings for the appetizer. The ketchup was not good to you but the rest was they forgot water refill even when asked and Jace’s mayo and Tyler’s beans but it was a good birthday dinner  you wore your crown! 

You had Sprite floats then went to bowl with Jace  he got you a shirt with lots of his faces on it! So awesome! 

 

You are fun and like to be adventurous. You’re cautious with committing to things though. You said we spent a lot on our keys trip and I think that played a factor in you saying. Onto some of my ideas. You like quality things. Like the cologne. You still mostly wear Odd Socks brand undies and bought yourself a nice pickle ball paddle. You have gotten your friends to like playing pickle ball and even I voted me to go play with you and your friends! 

You wanted to spend more time exploring with Dylan when we were in the keys but he was doing homework and going to bed early. Raff was with him. You and Noah had fun. 

You are still one who speaks as little as possible to me. You have semi plans but do not tell us until it is immediate for us to say yes or now, preying on my will for you to have the most experiences. So you say you will do chores after. Sometimes you do them. Sometimes you clean all perfect because you want something. But you do not go the extra mile yet unless there is something in it for you. I do see you maturing more though. For years you have turned in homework and gotten great grades. You keep your room clean now too. Jace is your best friend. He is the best. You find ways to earn it ask for money since you don’t have a job nor do you want one. 

You had shoulder surgery on your left shoulder in October and didn’t even try out for the high school soccer team. That is crazy to me. You help carpool Tyler home from schools 3 days a week now. My mom helps a ton when she is in town. Apparently you had taken Tyler driving and even let him do the pedals. What?! He is 13. But Andre did that with dad and Tyler is a great driver. You have been watching Dexter because dad did. You love the beach and sometimes just go.  I love you Isaac. You have HUGE potential and when you tap into your thinking planning or creative parts of your brain, you’re unstoppable. I’m impressed by you all the time  not just when you caught a pigeon at Fogarty’s the other week  although that is silky and brave and random :) 

Live, Mom