In my neighborhood, I have slowly realized, there’s a disabled teenager who seems to never leave his house. He stands in the picture window, hands on the window, peering out at the few people who walk by. I don’t know if he even goes to school. He waves at me, sometimes, and that’s about all he does all day. He’s got the kind of puffy face that I associate with Down syndrome, and thinking about him made me want to tell you that Sophie is incredibly lucky to have you as a mom.

Because you keep taking her out, even when it’s hard. She’s not ever going to be like my neighbor, lonely nose pressed against the picture window, every day.

I don’t know if that makes this kind of birthday party any easier — probably not — but I wanted to tell it to you anyway.