Here are five quick things on my mind this week:
Our 6th Grader turned twelve years old on Tuesday. She is nearing my height and my shoe size, and it doesn’t seem possible that I could be parenting someone of her age when I feel like I’m still growing up myself. As our firstborn she is also our “first try” at all things parenting. And, oh, the mistakes we have made. Fortunately God has made her resilient and determined, qualities that are sure to help her overcome some of our missteps. I imagine it is difficult to be the oldest of three girls and share everything with younger sisters — from a bathroom in the mornings to a date at all the father-daughter dances. But she does so, and her sisters depend on her and look up to her more than she yet knows.
At twelve years old I see so much of myself in her. We exhibit classic firstborn tendencies, bossing our siblings and both always needing to have the last word. But I also see strengths in her that are different from my own. She is willing to try new things and brings energy and determination to all of her pursuits. Most notably, she is comfortable and confident on a dance floor. I don’t even know how this is possible. But it has been a joy to see her find something she loves and run {or relevé!} with it.
I re-read the quote below today and am thinking about how much I need to work on communicating our affection for her out loud. I sure hope our newly turned twelve-year-old knows — at least on some level — how very delighted we are with her and her place in our family.
“We must tell our daughters that we are pleased with them, that we are delighted they are in our lives and in the world, and that God sees them as his beloved daughters. It’s important to use deeply inclusive language so that they know they have an important place in our family and God’s family. The words after Christ’s baptism, ‘You are my beloved son with whom I am well pleased’ are so powerful. Our children need to hear the same, ‘I am so pleased with you — there’s nothing you can to do to change how I feel about you.’ ”
{Katherine Wolf, a young stroke survivor and living hero of the faith}
Happy birthday weekend to our favorite tween!
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I discovered this verse, Psalm 144:12, awhile back and love how it speaks to parenting:
May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace.
I don’t know what it looks like to raise “corner pillars,” but I like the imagery of raising daughters who are a strong and significant part of a beautiful, grand structure. I need to study up on this verse.
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Something magical happens when a skill you’ve been practicing shifts from being hard work to being enjoyable work. This is just barely starting to happen for the 4th Grader with piano. She forbids video or photography of her on the bench, but we snuck one from a distance. I’m going to keep it on my phone as a visual reminder that practice has a payoff because sometimes the business of practice is just plain painful.
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I’ve mentioned this before, but if you struggle with decision fatigue, need help discerning your “next right thing,” or would just enjoy 12-15 minutes of calm in your week, this podcast is worth a listen. She leaves me with at least one powerful takeaway every time.
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Finally, and on a lighter note… Although everyone is back in school this week, the stuffed animal hospital is still in full swing each afternoon. The 1st Grader asked for some manilla file folders so she could properly organize her patient files. I peeked into the hospital office this morning and found a new write-up on a recent admit:
I hope Emma’s “bloorey vishen” clears up soon, but at least she is “hering” things ok. Welcome to healthcare documentation in the South!
Have a great President’s Day weekend!
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