Bubble Toes — jaimejoshi.com

Dear Willow:

It’s been a few months since I wrote, so I figured I would check in.

We’re ten days into 2022 and you have spent every weekend of this year so far at the beach. You love being outside and there is nothing that makes you happier than toddling all over the sand and dipping your little bubbly toes in the surf.

You are utterly fearless and dash headfirst towards the waves.

I love that about you - I love that you are wild and free and know that you belong in nature and amidst the surf.

But I’m also your mom and I would be remiss if I didn’t drop a little Jack Burton here:

Bud! The ocean is filled with riptides and Man O’ War jellyfish and sharks and whale shit! You can’t just run pell-mell towards it! It’s not Jason Momoa!

When you’re a little bigger, I’m gonna get you some surf lessons. And maybe a book about how to identify venomous jellyfish. And we’re totally watching Jaws.

Hey man - the gift of fear is a thing that might just save your life.

Your new favorite word and person is Dada which makes a lot of sense because Dada is the fun one. He takes you further into the ocean, he carries you on his shoulders so you can see the surfers and the kite-surfers and he always shares his McDonalds hash browns with you.

Dada is pretty great and I love seeing the two of you together. I can’t wait until you’re a little older and can go golfing with Dada and Poppy. You’re going to have the best time.

People have spilled oceans of ink on what it means to be a parent and while I haven’t been at this gig long, I think a universal belief is that parents want their kids to have a better life than they did and I like to believe that’s true for you.

My childhood was great but it was vastly different than the way you’re growing up.

I didn’t see the ocean until I was at least 11 years old and I definitely didn’t spend my Januaries toddling around on the sand or eating fries in the sunshine.

I mean, Mommy grew up in England and Azeem from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was not wrong.

But for you, there is a life lived in sunshine. With sandy toes, puppy kisses and a mama and dada who will make sure your weekends are filled with sunshine, salty water and Surfaces on the stereo.