It's finally here!!

It's finally arrived. Eighteen years in the making.  It was a chaotic whirlwind and I know there was so much I forgot to tell you.  So here you go!

Dear William,

Yes, I know you'd prefer Will...but I'm your mom and you'll always be William to me.  Just like you'll always be my baby.  Certainly, you're no longer a "baby".  You've grown in every way.  Yet while you're more than a head taller than me, you will always be that little old man they laid in my arms in the wee hours of the morning on that bitter cold, January day.

And now we're here, celebrating your biggest accomplishment so far!  And I know, this is the first of many to come.  You've worked harder than I thought possible...and not just in school.  You've demonstrated a commitment to everything.  Work, school, friends.  Please carry that with you.  Loyalty is a dying trait and you have so much of it.

It's always been so hard for me to let you go.  From the moment you were born, you've been my little piece of peace in this life.  Your first smile warmed my soul...and it still does.  I cried when you left for Kindergarten, your first sleep over, your first camping trip, your first concert, the first time you drove down the driveway and your first trip to Perfect North.  And I'm sure there were a million more occasions than that.  Did I mention it's been a little hard for me to let you go?

I am so very, very proud of you.  And it's time for you to conquer the world.  Without a doubt, I'm not done crying.  But like all of the events that have come before this, we'll both survive.  You will take on one challenge after another and I will shed a million tears of joy as you do.  It's time for me to let you go.  It's your time to conquer the world.  And I'll be your biggest cheerleader, your place to come home to and yes, the one crying as you do it all.

Congratulations William!  I can't wait to see what you do next!

All my love,

Mom.