People come into our lives at different times to teach us lessons. I firmly believe this. Every November, when we celebrate my son’s birthday, I am reminded of one very special person who has greatly and indelibly impacted our family’s lives.

One of the most beautiful things about raising a kid is watching them experience life. The look of wonder when they learn something new. The sense of pride when they do something they didn’t think possible. The joy when you watch from afar as it all starts to click. Sure, there’s the pain of the failures. Nothing quite prepared me for how much I would hurt watching my son hurt - get cut, kick a play, etc. But you can’t learn without a little misstep here and there. Bouncing back is also part of the process and the beauty. You get a chance to try again.