Dear Bryce, I am in high school, a senior now, about to graduate. The only things you know about my school is that I have to study and do work at home, and that I don’t have as much fun at my school as you do at yours. Even though you’re only three now, you’re more caring, loving and funny than most people I know. At three you have taught me more about myself than high school has. You have taught me to be more patient than I ever thought I could be. You have taught me to be responsible for those other than myself. You have taught me to be as good a role model as I can be. You have taught me the power of imitation, especially when I swear. You have taught me utter compassion, blatant empathy and everlasting bond of love. You wrap blankets around me when I’m sick, bringing me your teddy bear along with your Thomas the Train blanket.

I remember the day you were born, and I remember when you started walking. I remember when you first started talking, the slur of words only understood by our immediate family. From the beginning you spoke rapidly, telling us stories about trucks and motorcycles, just as you do now. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown and changed, and it may seem silly to say you’ve grown up so much when you’re still only three, but in my eyes you change everyday. Every day I watch you learn a new word, roll your eyes in a new way, learn to do the peace sign, learn who Donald Trump is or learn how to skip. I can’t wait to teach you about all the wonderful things in the world, and take you to explore our beautiful earth.

Bryce, you have shown me that there is always love, acceptance and compassion in the world, you just have to know where to look. In the face of a corrupt world of hate, injustice, poverty, greed, racism, slavery, hunger, war, sickness, bullying, selfishness, you have shown me that it is the little things that make an impact. I have learned from you everyday that each act of kindness changes the world, even if it only changes one person’s life.

You have taught me that love can be unconditional. Lasting through hours of screaming, through countless stolen afternoon snacks of Oreo’s and glasses of orange juice, through your resistance to naps, playing Gingerbread Baby and the Three Bears when I have AP tests the next day, you have shown me what love is. You have taught me that life happens once, so make your choices wisely. Yes I have chosen watching you learn to crawl over analyzing a Shakespearean sonnet for Ms. Gardner’s class. Yes I have chose walking to the park with you, pushing you on the swing, holding your hand as you go down the slide instead of preparing for a 1984 essay in Ms. Kautsch’s class. Yes I have pulled you up and down the hall on the Thomas blanket as your sled instead of preparing for a socratic seminar in Ms. Tay’s class. Yes we have had tea parties when I should have been studying for AP Government or working on my JC classes. And I don’t regret any of it. You only grow up once, developing from a small infant to a “Super Strong Man” who likes to show his strength by carrying the largest bags of groceries, helping with mowing the lawn with the full sized mower, wanting to use the biggest tools and helping with the hardest chores. You never shy away from a challenge. I can’t wait to see the person you grow up to be, but I know that you will be an amazing human being. I truly hope you continue to be the curious, considerate, thoughtful, intelligent, loving boy that you are today.

I want you to know that I will be here with you forever, that I will be here for you, forever. As you grow even more, I will give you a hard time. You tell me now you want to play “all the sports and be on all the teams,” and i’ll be there trying to protect you from getting concussions in football. I will be there encouraging you to read all my favorite books as books become more and more extinct. I will be there, criticizing whatever new music and fashion styles become popular.

I wouldn’t trade anything for the world in having you as a brother, in getting to watch you grow and become an independent Superman. So, my Bugs, my Monkey, my Mister-McGoo, you have made me the person I am today, and I am forever grateful. I love you, little brother, and I always will.