One day at the beginning of the summer CJ came to us and said from now on he wanted to be called Christopher. It felt weird. Since before he was even born I had been calling him CJ. It almost felt like he was changing his identity, despite already being called that by a select few.

When I asked him why he wanted to make this change he told me he was getting older and CJ was more of a little boy name. He was so matter of fact. I knew he was growing up but this was one of the first times he used his age appropriately to support a cause. I wasn’t ready, but Christopher is his birth name. I can’t argue with that.

The summer moved along and as we saw friends and family we shared the name change. Everyone was so good about using his birth name around him, while I struggled a bit more. He knew it would take me some time and was very patient as I transitioned. Let’s be honest, I am still transitioning.

School started and he proudly told his teachers and classmates that he now wanted to be called Christopher. When I went to the open house a few of the moms told me they thought he was a new student when their children came home and were rattling off the names of their classmates. It felt just as weird to them as it did to me, but everyone at school seems to have fully embraced it.

This year is a big one for Christopher. In December he turns ten. In June he graduates elementary school, which means in September he starts middle school. My mama heart doesn’t quite know how I will handle all these big changes. It feels like yesterday he started kindergarten and was crawling in my bed to cuddle every night.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse for me, today he came home and told me he finally found the courage to tell the girl he liked that he had a crush on her. She was getting on her bus and he ran past and yelled to her. I admire his courage but he obviously did not get the memo about me being the only girl in his heart…FOREVER.

For the next hour, I listened as he worried if she would like him back. If she didn’t, would she tell everyone, and would his classmates make fun of him for opening up his heart? He was curious if there was fourth-grade competition and asked me what an appropriate age to start dating was. He was very mature with his words and after we talked it through he concluded that even if she doesn’t like him back he was still brave enough to tell her. Anyone who knows Christopher knows how far simply telling her took him out of his comfort zone.

My wish is that he always feels comfortable enough to share what he is feeling, and even though it sometimes bores me to death, there is never a time I am not grateful for those moments. In true mom fashion I imparted some wisdom at the end of our chat. I told him to never change who he is to make someone else like him, and that girls really love boys who use deodorant and brush their teeth every morning.

I always knew he would grow up. I am so proud of who he is becoming but so incredibly sad to say goodbye to chapter we are ending.

Follow us as we navigate our world.

• Instagram