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Jan
27

Dear Annabella,

I know that you’ve been having some troubles lately. Third grade has been a big transition for you. Taking responsibility for your school work, your handwriting, so many things… Wears you out, right?

But I promise you, that you are going to get the hang of it. You’ll figure out a way to either make your writing meet expectations or to squeak through like your mom. Dad is helping you with this because I understand all too well the desire to make your letters look like everyone else’s and no matter how hard you practice, that is just not what comes out the end of your pencil. But nobody really worked with me, so maybe dad can help. It’s worth a shot, and you deserve it. You deserve to give yourself the chance to grow beyond this trouble spot. It may not be easy, but if you can get past it, you will be rewarded in small ways for the rest of your life.

So many things in life are like this. They look insurmountable. Until you take it one step at a time, or someone shows you the way, or you just have a breakthrough. Just keep plugging away, OK?

You’re so amazing. Everything that comes to you so easily. It just takes my heart and squeezes it, in a good way. Possibly, those things that come easy make the hard stuff look much harder than it really is. Just keep at it. Don’t give up.

One more thing. I want you to know how lucky your brother is to have you. He’s 4 and he’s doing addition, and he figured out reading on his own… He makes everything look so easy. Do you want to know why? Because he has you. You show him things that Dad and I can’t. You are there for him, to challenge him and keep him learning new things. He wants to be just like you. You are a role model and an inspiration that he can totally relate to. And you? Had to figure it all out, with just Dad and I to lend a helping hand. And as much as we love you and want to help you, we are just not, well, kids.

Keep going, kiddo. I know that once you get some of your third grade challenges tamed, you’re going have a blast at school again.

Love you,
Mom

Jan
20

I Wonder

You don’t get a lot of opportunity for direct feedback from your children. Sure, once they reach a certain age, they will yell, “I hate you!” And if they don’t you just might be doing something wrong.

This evening I got a little picture of how the children see me. They were chasing each other around the house. I heard Redding call out, “Annabella, you’re the mom, now you say, ‘Get back here and give me some love!’ OK?” She did, they continued chasing, and dissolved into giggles.

Jan
16

Mighty Warrior

Redding was using his imagination last week. This time when he went raiding the kitchen looking for new toys, he walked away with a sword (wooden spoon) and shield (my smallest pot lid). Now I am a pacifist. It’s true. But this? This is ridiculously adorable.

Jan
12

Luckiest Mom Ever

I woke up to this today.

#4 is Good Cook, which is rather a shock, since Annabella is all about chicken nuggets at this particular moment in her life.

But it’s the last one that really makes my eyes misty. My girl thinks I have a big heart. How wonderful is that?

The “Just Mom and Me” American Girl book is her most favorite thing in the world right now. I highly recommend it.

Jan
06

Happy Friday!

I love that my children love each other and want to spend time together. I love the way they look forward to Friday afternoons and weekends, so they can hang out and play together.

I do not love that they are so delighted to be together that Annabella goes to the bathroom with the door open and Redding can’t wait to spend time with her, so I find him camped out on the floor with his snack, waiting for her to be done, so they can play some more.

Goofy little bastards.

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