Dear Mercedes,
I am writing this to you a few days early, because next week we will be on a beach in the sunshine (that’s some
birthday present isn’t it?) and I’d rather focus on spending time with YOU than
writing in a journal.
Next week, you turn eight. It’s amazing to
me how much you have changed in this past year. The reading, the writing, the
math, the more intense discussions (like asking me about President Trump, and
why he couldn’t be more like Prime Minister Trudeau, or asking me why so much
stuff you see is Made in China). And of course, there’s the interest in clothes
and shoes and makeup and the incessant wondering as to how old you need to be
to get an iPhone (the answer? NOT YET).
I love watching you figure out the world
around you and seeing your creativity at work – making pretend YouTube videos
of your Journey Girls or your Shopkins, or stapling paper together to write
your own book, or researching things on the internet. Your mind works in
fascinating ways and it’s a glorious thing to watch.
You’ve had some rough moments recently –
some friend issues at school and some anxious moments, but you face everything
with bravery, even though I know you are nervous inside. That, more than
walking into a room unafraid, makes me so proud. Seeing you accept these
aspects of your personality, and try to understand them, and still work to
conquer them – it’s heartbreaking sometimes to watch (or to get yet another
text from your teacher saying your tummy hurts) but I am so proud to see you
work through things that come your way.
I love everything about you, inside and
out, and I am so proud to be your mother. I know the road will get rockier (the
tween attitude is already strong sometimes!), and I know that we will make some
mistakes along the way, but I am confident we can work through anything
together. I can’t wait to see more of the person you become – and to finally be
able to watch classic movies with you like Pitch Perfect and Dirty Dancing and
Bring it On!
Love,
Mama
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