This morning, before I woke you up, I sat for a few minutes and just watched you sleep. No longer a small baby that I can pick up and hold in my arms, you have grown into a stunning girl. Blonde and blue eyed with an easy smile.
You've always had this *thing* about you. This happiness and light way in the world. You have always been caring and giving and genuine. With that in mind, I was afraid of your eighth year after seeing how your older sister took to hers. There is much talk when you are a mother of "Terrible Twos" and your child is supposed to become a holy terror at the age of two. I thought this was a myth as Amanda left her twos behind without incident. But then, there was three. And let me tell you girly, three was a pain. Three was the age that made me question just how much I wanted to keep you and your sisters. Three was tantrums and pushing limits and the real introduction of the word "NO!" for both mother and child. Three was hard.
But three was only hard until I met Eight. Two years ago, Amanda turned eight. I didn't consider it to be a major age. Wouldn't be much different that seven had been. And I was horribly wrong in that assumption. Horribly. Eight was, what I can only assume, your Sneak Peak at The Dreaded Teenage Years. I couldn't believe the changes that Amanda went through, not only physically but emotionally. Body and mind were a projected roller coaster to all around her. Her ninth birthday was a gift for us all as she got a few inches taller and shed a few pounds of her "chubby" and it seemed, got a little control over her emotions.
But I never thought that you would undergo the same transformation upon turning eight. You and your sister have always been so incredibly different that I rarely assume you will experience or react to things in the same way. However, The Universe apparently inflicts pre-pubescence on all little girls similarly and equally. Just as your sister turned nine and started to slim down and mellow out, you picked up her discarded weight and emotions and piled them on high. Your personality is much different from Amanda's, possibly more patient and tolerant and a little more stable, so you weren't completely unbearable this year but you were, in many ways, the B version of your sister's eighth year.
You discovered, buried within you somewhere, your Cattiness. One of the most common among the young girl traits. It's meaning: deliberately hurtful in one's remarks; spiteful.
Yup, Catty I believe is a synonym for Young Girl.
It can't be helped. I have long learned that Nature will be what it is and that all of these things are phases. But the bickering between all of my girls this year was so overwhelming. And as I mentioned before, my Sneak Peak at The Dreaded Teenage Years.
But here's the thing Em - it's all part of growing up. And you, my darling little girl, are indeed growing up. And all this years woes aside, you are making excellent decisions while walking down this road.
Over the last nine years, you have grown in many ways. Every year has brought with it these new ideas for you and you always explore them. You are fearless and confident. You participate in everything and try everything and usually love everything. A few years ago you decided you wanted to be a Chef when you grew up but rather than continue to be interested in cooking, you've drifted off and now seem interested in so many things that when I wonder what you are actually going to be when you grow up, I can't even begin to guess.
But I can tell you that you will be busy and happy. You have inherited this from me. This inability to be still and this constant pursuit of happiness. If someone throws an activity at you, you catch it. This year alone has been UIL, Student Council, Choir, Softball, Advanced Reading, The Talent Show... and I'm sure more that I just can't even think of right now. And you did all of this without prompting while maintaining a straight A average at school. I'm impressed. And I'm so very very proud.
Here's the thing kiddo. I know that you and I are going to butt heads. I know you are going to experience things as you grow up that are going to make the relationship that you and I have difficult at times. But I also know that you are going to come through all of that and still be this awesome and amazing girl that I am so very proud of every day.
Happy birthday Blondie!
Love,
Mommy
Labels: Being Mommy, birthday, Emilee
