Ezra Turns 6 Today...

Ezra turned six today. I’m still trying to figure out how that happened so quickly. He’s a kindergartner at Dubois Elementary now, walking into a building that feels different to me simply because he’s inside it. Six is still little, yet I’m already seeing flashes of the person he’s becoming.

He has a way of shifting the mood in any room. He’s funny and affectionate, often acting as the glue that keeps us all together without even knowing he’s doing it. There’s a warmth to him that’s hard to capture in words.

He’s also determined to become a giant. He hit 52 inches today, which is wild. He’s still my little boy, but he’s built like someone accidentally chose the eight-year-old character model.

We brought treats to his class today, Charlie Brown cupcakes. I’m noting that down because it’s the kind of detail I’d otherwise forget. Someday, I’ll remember his sixth birthday, but I won’t recall the specific decision to go with Snoopy over everything else.

Tonight, we celebrate with a cake request that’s uniquely him: watermelon poke cake with strawberry icing. I’m not sure how he landed on that flavor combination, but he knew exactly what he wanted. That’s the fun of this age.

Birthdays hit differently as a parent. As a kid, six felt like an eternity. As a dad, it feels like someone hit fast-forward when I wasn’t looking.

I remember when he was small enough that six seemed like a distant milestone. Now he’s here. He’s developing his own interests and making choices, becoming more independent in ways that are almost too small to notice in the moment.

Yet, underneath that growth is an incredibly kind kid. That’s what makes me proud. I want him to succeed and find work that excites him, but more than any achievement, I hope he keeps his heart. I don’t know who he’ll grow up to be, and that’s the best part of being his dad. Whether he does something life-changing or completely ordinary, I have a feeling he’ll be great at it. Not because he’s the smartest in the room, but because he genuinely cares for people.

The world puts so much weight on what someone becomes in life: their career, their status, their resume. Watching Ezra at six, I hope I never teach him that those things matter more than being a good human. Right now, he’s just that. A good kid who loves his family and makes our house better just by being in it.

He’ll have tough years ahead, and he’ll make his own share of mistakes, I am one to attest to that. That’s life. I don’t want to freeze him in time, but I do want to hold onto these specific moments: the height, the cupcakes, and the "Ezra" cake flavors.

If this archive lasts, maybe he’ll read this when six feels like a lifetime ago. Maybe his own kids will see it. Maybe they’ll know this tiny snapshot of a boy on a September afternoon because I made sure to write it down.

So, this is Ezra at six. Tall, hilarious, and very serious about his dessert. I’m proud to be his dad. Happy birthday, buddy.