Dear Maddie,
Today is Parker's birthday...and I'm just finishing your birthday blog post. That means I am a full six months behind. Wow!
Please believe me when I say I have been composing this post for months. I have typed it multiple times. Each time I sit to type, something inevitably needs to be added or altered. You have changed so very much in the last few months; I simply can't keep up. Watching you grow in the last 18 months has been like watching a nature program on TV where they keep a camera trained on a blooming flower and utilize the time lapse function. You blossom before our eyes every single day!
Near your 10th birthday, your culinary talents exploded. You received a cookbook for Christmas and began cooking full meals (complete with appetizers and desserts) from scratch. One night you asked if you could make dinner. I told you I had already planned a meal, but you told me you could handle it. You weren't kidding. You opened my cookbook and got to work. First you diced the onions and peppers, sautéed them, added the black beans and began to whip up the cornbread topping. Then you decided while the black bean casserole was baking you'd like to make some "Creamy Dreamy Tomato Soup" from your own cook book. Realizing it only made two servings, you quickly made a second batch, all before your casserole finished baking. What????!!! I wouldn't even attempt all that! We made the little boys wear blindfolds to dinner (your suggestion to limit their negative comments about the appearance of new foods), and dinner was a hit with everyone! You amaze me, dear girl!
Unprompted, you bathe each evening and request french braids in your hair before bed. At first glance, this routine may seem unimportant. I assure you, it is not. For years, and I mean YEARS, we suffered the battle-of-the-hair. Oh the tears! Oh the many brushes we've tried! Oh the threats I've made to cut it all off "if it ever gets this tangled again!" Wisely, you decided there was a better way. You knew it was easiest to comb when it was still wet from a washing. You listened to my advice about braiding it before bed. You have now circumvented all that previous drama with your self-imposed nighttime routine. Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times over.
You are are a thinker and a teacher at heart. You have begun teaching your youngest brother math. Yes, he's a sharp cookie, but I highly doubt without your afternoon tutoring (totally voluntary on both your parts) our preschooler would be able to solve 150 + 150. His handwriting is also better than his older brothers' thanks to you having him practice on the dry-erase board.
Maddie-Deez, you have an absolute heart of gold. You care so deeply about others and the world in general. Learning about world history and wars brings you to tears. While my heart aches to see you hurting, I hope you never lose the deep compassion you have for everyone. It is rare and one of your greatest assets.
You are so in tune with your emotions and thoughts that we have begun exploring the idea of an inner child and the importance of self-talk in managing your feelings. You do an amazing job with that and have learned how to gracefully handle failures and disappointments. I'm so very proud of you and sincerely hope you are proud of yourself.
There is no way to end this birthday letter. The changes in you are never-ending. I am so looking forward to this year and watching you grow and bloom even more. It's impossible to believe that in six short months you will be 11. How I wish I could slow the unrelenting march of time. But I won't even try. I will simply be thankful to ride the waves you create in this universe. I will be glad to be the one you affectionately call mom. I will praise God for my precious daughter. I love you so much, darling girl!
Love,
Momma
Today is Parker's birthday...and I'm just finishing your birthday blog post. That means I am a full six months behind. Wow!
Please believe me when I say I have been composing this post for months. I have typed it multiple times. Each time I sit to type, something inevitably needs to be added or altered. You have changed so very much in the last few months; I simply can't keep up. Watching you grow in the last 18 months has been like watching a nature program on TV where they keep a camera trained on a blooming flower and utilize the time lapse function. You blossom before our eyes every single day!
Near your 10th birthday, your culinary talents exploded. You received a cookbook for Christmas and began cooking full meals (complete with appetizers and desserts) from scratch. One night you asked if you could make dinner. I told you I had already planned a meal, but you told me you could handle it. You weren't kidding. You opened my cookbook and got to work. First you diced the onions and peppers, sautéed them, added the black beans and began to whip up the cornbread topping. Then you decided while the black bean casserole was baking you'd like to make some "Creamy Dreamy Tomato Soup" from your own cook book. Realizing it only made two servings, you quickly made a second batch, all before your casserole finished baking. What????!!! I wouldn't even attempt all that! We made the little boys wear blindfolds to dinner (your suggestion to limit their negative comments about the appearance of new foods), and dinner was a hit with everyone! You amaze me, dear girl!
Unprompted, you bathe each evening and request french braids in your hair before bed. At first glance, this routine may seem unimportant. I assure you, it is not. For years, and I mean YEARS, we suffered the battle-of-the-hair. Oh the tears! Oh the many brushes we've tried! Oh the threats I've made to cut it all off "if it ever gets this tangled again!" Wisely, you decided there was a better way. You knew it was easiest to comb when it was still wet from a washing. You listened to my advice about braiding it before bed. You have now circumvented all that previous drama with your self-imposed nighttime routine. Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times over.
You are are a thinker and a teacher at heart. You have begun teaching your youngest brother math. Yes, he's a sharp cookie, but I highly doubt without your afternoon tutoring (totally voluntary on both your parts) our preschooler would be able to solve 150 + 150. His handwriting is also better than his older brothers' thanks to you having him practice on the dry-erase board.
Maddie-Deez, you have an absolute heart of gold. You care so deeply about others and the world in general. Learning about world history and wars brings you to tears. While my heart aches to see you hurting, I hope you never lose the deep compassion you have for everyone. It is rare and one of your greatest assets.
You are so in tune with your emotions and thoughts that we have begun exploring the idea of an inner child and the importance of self-talk in managing your feelings. You do an amazing job with that and have learned how to gracefully handle failures and disappointments. I'm so very proud of you and sincerely hope you are proud of yourself.
There is no way to end this birthday letter. The changes in you are never-ending. I am so looking forward to this year and watching you grow and bloom even more. It's impossible to believe that in six short months you will be 11. How I wish I could slow the unrelenting march of time. But I won't even try. I will simply be thankful to ride the waves you create in this universe. I will be glad to be the one you affectionately call mom. I will praise God for my precious daughter. I love you so much, darling girl!
Love,
Momma
No comments:
Post a Comment