This is your first year as a "tween".
You become one year closer to being a teenager.
And most of the time this scares the hell out of me.
It scares me because I know that you are starting to separate from me and find out who you are.
You still come up and hug me for no reason and just this morning you ran back out to the car to give me a hug and kiss because you forgot, so I know that the sweet kid I love is still in there. But in the last few months I've been afraid that you and I are starting to drift apart and while I know it will happen, it sucks nonetheless.
But last week, all of my fears that I was going to lose you to this little pre-pubescent hellion were washed away.
Last week we had a mix up with the bus when you were in UIL so you had no idea about it. And even though your little sister was scared when she was (incorrectly) dropped off at home alone, she really handled the whole thing very well.
But when I got home, you ran over to me and hugged me and just sobbed. You were so upset that you hadn't been there, that you hadn't been able to protect her and take care of her and prevent this from ever happening. You were so upset that you offered to drop UIL.
On that day I was reminded that while you will have your snotty little moments where you will be trying to figure out who it is that you want to be, you will always be the sweet girl that is brought to tears when you can't protect those you love.
That is the little girl I raised and the little girl I am exceedingly proud of every single day.
Happy Birthday Amanda!
Love,
Mom
Labels: Amanda, Being Mommy, birthday, sisters
