Happy 8th!

Dear 2nd Grader,

Today you turn eight years old. In my mind you should still be about four years old, but I know you’re especially proud of each one of your eight years today. As our middle child, I imagine there are times when you feel somewhat overlooked being sandwiched between the firstborn 4th Grader and the ever-busy Preschooler. But, I want you to know how much we enjoy you and are paying attention to who you are and who you are becoming. These are some of my favorite things about you right now:

• I like the way you continue to ask hard questions {though this stresses me out in the mornings!}. You need to know how many stars there are in space and what happened to the people who died before Jesus came to earth. You’re the one who needs to know whether “Judas the Scariest” went to heaven or hell. You’re not content with canned responses. You want real answers to life’s questions. You make me think about things I’ve never thought about and search out answers to questions I’ve never dreamed to ask. I appreciate Google and the concordance in the back of my Bible more than ever because of you.
• I love your honesty. You’re observant and and unafraid to shoot straight with me about everything, including my failures as a parent. Last May when people were taking end of the school year gifts to their teachers you were paying attention and reported back to me: “All the other moms bake stuff and make stuff for the teacher, and you just buy stuff from the store.” It’s true; and you’re not afraid to tell me what you think about it. You’re also full of honest advice… like when you spill chili on your shirt and promptly tell me, “You’re not using the right stuff on our clothes. Oxyclean gets out tough stains.” I know I can ask you how a new outfit looks or if you like a certain hairstyle and you will have an informed opinion on the matter.
• I love the way you care about stories. You might be the only child I know who wants to visit the Dolly Parton museum every time we go to Dollywood. Of course you enjoy most of the rides, but Dolly’s life story {and the way she decorates her tour bus} matters to you just as much as the River Rampage.
• I like your fiery determination. Last spring you wanted to learn to play badminton. I didn’t think that was a good idea because it’s frustrating to try and hit a tiny birdie with a $3 racquet in our windswept driveway. But, you persevered and learned to swat it {and occasionally your younger sister} with the best of them. Then, over the summer you wanted to learn to jump rope. While it was a challenge and involved a few tears and a lot of stomping and slinging of rope, in the end, you mastered it. When you set your mind to something, you’re unstoppable.
• I love listening to you learn to play piano. Sometimes your practice sessions bring out the worst in both of us. But at the end of the day you have a sincere enjoyment of the piano that I’m excited to watch develop. I even like it when you’re mad at me and you proceed to play bang out “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” as loud and hatefully as you possibly can. You’re learning–and reminding me along the way–how important it is to channel our emotions into something bigger than ourselves.
• Maybe most of all, I love the way I see a tenderheartedness in you that I wish I had more of myself. When you completely lose your temper or behave unreasonably, you almost always come back around and apologize for it. You’re sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. Whether it’s birth order or an innate quality, I feel like you naturally pursue peace and connection with the people around you.

I know I let you down a lot. I’m not always as present as I should be to your questions or your needs. Often I’m so busy helping or chasing your sisters that I don’t give as much time as you would like to just sitting and being together. And, of course, I don’t wear red lipstick, blue eyeshadow, or stilettos as you have requested me to on several occasions. But, I hope you will know this year and always how much I cherish you and the unique ways you flavor our family.

Happy 8th with love, 2nd Grader!