You're Growing Up Too Fast
Friday, March 2nd, 2001
“Y’know, Sage, you’re exactly nine months today….Tomorrow makes it nine months since I adopted you.”
Sage looked up from the wooden blocks they were playing with, smiled at Harry, then went back to building.
“You’re so young still, but….Well, every day you’re getting older. In just a few months you’ll be a year old, a toddler. Then, a few years later, you won’t be a toddler anymore, just a kid. And, before either of us know it, you’ll go off to Hogwarts. Then you’ll be a teenager. Then an adult. Then you’ll graduate. And within the next couple years after that, you’ll likely move out. I know there’s still over seventeen years before you leave, but I can’t help thinking about it,”
Harry sat in silence, watching Sage build, until he had to wipe the tears from his eyes.
“Of course, I want you to grow up, but it’s also sad that you won’t be a baby anymore….Don’t worry, though, you’ll always be dada’s baby. Dada will always love you.”
“Love, dada!” Sage giggled, not a care in the world.
“Yes, dada loves you and always will….It doesn’t matter what your gender or sexuality is, what clothes you wear or toys you play with, nothing. No matter what, forever and ever, I will love and support you.”
“Love, dada!”
“I have no idea why you always say that. I don’t know if you’re communicating something, learning, like the sound and/or feeling of the words, maybe multiple of those, or something entirely different. Regardless, I really hope I’m reacting correctly, because dada loves you baby.”
“Bbay!”
“Baby? Is that what you’re saying? You are dada’s baby.”
“Dada!”
“I love you Sage.” Harry had said it a million times already in the past half hour, but he wanted to say it again. He loved Sage.
“Love, dada!”
“Yes, Sage, love.”