For the past two years I have had a best friend (besides my husband, of course) and he is 3 years old. Yup, you heard me right. You may think that me claiming a 3 year old as my best friend is silly, but it's the truth. You see...

A best friend is always there for you. Sean has always been there for me. We have spent every day together for the past year and a half. He was there to have good, productive days with and there to have lazy days with. He was there to comfort me and there to make me laugh.

A best friend listens to you. I could tell Sean anything. If I was having a bad day, he often reminded me, "But Caityin, it's a beautiful, sunny day outside." He always listened to me and offered his advice. While shopping at Target and looking at shirts, he sometimes turned to me and said, "I'm not sure you like that one." He was the best listener...

A best friend takes care of you. When my toes were cold and blue (which was very often), Sean would cover them up with his "bumpy blanky" (his very favorite lovey) to warm them up. He would check their heartbeat by "doctoring" them, as he called it. When my belly hurt, he would tell me, "Caityin, the bathroom is right in the other room, go use it please." He constantly comorted me and encouraged me. His is on of the most compassionate and empathetic people I know, and yes, he is only three years old.


A best friend makes you laugh. Sean made me laugh daily! By saying huge vocabulary words such as accordingly, actually, avocado and crescent. By asking me to say the word "mummy" and when I pronounced it wrong saying, "It's ok, that's a hard word for you Caityin." By telling me that my sister should name her baby boy "Monster Truckey." By singing "Moves like Jagger" and "Life is a Highway" at the top of his lungs to me. By walking into our house and seeing a pillow completely destroyed by our pup and saying "Uh-oh, Ollie did something very naughty." By simply laughing-his belly laugh is contagious.

A best friend teaches you. Sean has taught me more about myself than most people in my life (including highly educated people such as professors, pastors, friends, etc.) He has taught me the simplicity of life, and that is ok to "roar" like a monster truck in the middle of Panera Bread or Dunkin Donuts (our favorite morning date spots). He has helped me learn the meaning of selflessness. Sean has taught me the true meaning of love...

Sean may never really know or understand the things he has taught me, but I think that is the biggest reason why he is my best friend. A true friend does the above things without even knowing it. They do them because they love you.

I will miss my little buddy and best friend more than I can even imagine right now (considering I am typing his as he is napping and we haven't even officially said our goodbye yet). And although he may not remember me in years down the road, he will forever hold a special place in my heart and I will always be grateful for him-for teaching me how to one day care for and love a child of my own...