Noah. 14.

Taking on the waves
Grand Bend, ON
July 2014

He's our youngest child, the one who has the distinction of marking every "last" we'll ever have as parents. He was, is, and always will be our baby. And he knows it. Reminds my wife of that single fact as often as he can. Still holds her hand. Still holds my hand. Because he's just that kind of kid. Kind-hearted, makes every moment indelibly his, puts everyone else's needs before his own, puts smiles on the faces of those around him, looks out for those who others may have overlooked.

I'm supposed to be biased because, let's face it, that's a parent's job. But he doesn't come by it by default. He earns every word, every moment with every friend, every hug from a family that can't seem to get enough of him.

He turned 14 today. And as happens so often in his life, things didn't go according to plan. His dog, our dog, Frasier the wonder-dog, got lost after being left behind by the dog sitter following an outing, and after a frantic couple of hours finding the house of the kind-hearted soul who found him wandering the neighborhood and brought him home, we had run out of time to take him to a proper restaurant for a proper birthday dinner. Cake and candles? Presents? Those will have to wait for tomorrow.

But the little man - he will always be my little man even when he looks down on me - took it all in stride. We took in a movie later in the evening. We grabbed a bite afterward. We watched the rain paint the windows of the car incredible and ever-changing patterns. We came home to a very happy puppy, who wiggled his rear end with reckless abandon as Noah helped his sister wipe his soaking-wet body after his walk in the pouring rain.

Not scripted. Not perfect in the conventional sense, but oh so perfect in a Noah sense, in the way his spirit reminds you that the world is a lot better than it so often seems. Because he's in it. And 14 years in, it remains a privilege for us to be his parents.

Happy birthday, little man. The party continues tomorrow. Just because.

Xo