Hard decisions I pray you never notice

Tristan,

Daddy and I have some hard decisions to make about where to go to school, what help we get you for reading and for your dyslexia ... and I pray you never realize they were hard and expensive.

When I was little, I never knew we didn't have a lot of money.  I had everything I ever needed and wanted.  But what I didn't know was the sacrifice that was behind it.  I never felt 'poor', EVER... I mean I knew others had boats, cars and took big vacations but I don't ever recall feeling sad that I didn't have the same... because, well... I was always doing something that mattered.  With my family or friends. Always.

I didn't realize that my parents scrimped and saved to give me new clothes and shoes.  I didn't think about all the money they paid for my sports gear and equipment.

Not once did it cross my mind what all those birthday and Christmas presents costs.

I guess that's good... that's not a child's burden.

So I hope you never feel how much it cost us to send you to a private school and get you help. I hope you never feel bad or guilty for the things we don't do for ourselves so we can do for you.  I hope you never know how many close calls I had with my boss for leaving work just five minutes early to make a game or get you to practice on time...

but...

I hope you always, always appreciate that somewhere, there WAS sacrifice.  There is always the choice of do I do this for myself or do I invest in the future, well-being or desires for my son.

I will always choose you over myself just as my parents did for me.  Always.  That's LOVE.

And, my prayer is... that you can be wise enough to know that... and... be thankful.