At my daughter’s baby shower someone gave me a journal, so I could write her a letter every year or just journal to her regularly and give it to her when she is all grown up. I did keep up with it for some time, but like all best intentions life happened and I’ve not done it for a few years. Her birthday is this month, so I thought I’d bring back the habit and let you all along for the ride.
Dear Princess,
You haven’t always been the easiest of people to parent or live with for that matter. This year in particular has had some rough patches as you grow and mature and realize in a different way that you are a separate person and how scary that can be sometimes.
I’ve been so proud of you in so many ways this year though! You’ve improved in your reading so much and gotten faster at your math. I can see you actually wanting to work hard on your school work and do well instead of just playing and seeing how much you can get away with. You came up with the idea just this week to work on reading the first Harry Potter book while listening to the audio book! I love how you are getting into reading chapter books and figuring out what interests you.
You are a big helper! We’ve started giving you a little more payment for certain jobs beyond what we expect you to do as a member of the family and that has motivated you no end. You will do anything basically to make a quarter! Except for maybe pick up your room
We’ve had some major fights about your room–you are a serious pack rat! I have no idea why you think you need more than a dozen bags filled with markers and crayons or what you think you are going to do with dozens and dozens of stuffed animals. I have never seen such a large and eclectic collection of tiny things that drive me crazy.
You suddenly got very confident with swimming and oh so tall! You grew out of your car seat, but not quite tall enough to go without a booster. You love to cook with me particularly if it is something sweet. We’ve listened to many audio books together this year and I’ve been thrilled that you were ready for some of my favorites. You never get impatient when I stop the book to talk about it a bit and I love your insights into what’s happening in the story.
We had to take you off dairy earlier this year and you bemoan the fact at every opportunity, but you certainly don’t mind going to the dairy free gluten-free bakery and picking out your favorite treats.
Your hugs are the best thing in my day and I’m so thrilled I get to be your mom. It’s hard to believe that nine years ago you were just a tiny baby–we had no idea how many white hairs you would give us or how many belly laughs.
Happy Birthday Month Sweetie! Keep growing tall, beautiful, smart, and healthy!