My Girl

This girl.

The actual girl, not the dog.  The dog is clearly good for nothing.

The HUMAN girl.

She never ceases to amaze me.

She walked in after a 7 hour school day and 2 hours of cheer practice to see me fighting with her brother over homework. She didn’t even stop to drop her backpack. She walked straight in and said, “Do you want me to help him?  I can help him.”  She jumped right in and calmly and patiently explained his homework to him in a way that I could not.  She allowed me to step away and take a much needed breath.  She calmed both of us in a matter of seconds.

SHE DIDN’T EVEN TAKE OFF HER BACKPACK

Not many kids would do this.  Especially teenagers.  They're normally so self absorbed with a cell phone stuck in their face they don't even realize help is needed.  But this one is special.  While I'm sure she would have preferred to go straight to her room with her cell phone stuck in her face, she didn't.  She stepped in the middle of a screaming match and took over.  As amazing as this is, this isn't a one time thing for her.  This is her norm.  And I admit, I take it for granted.  Take HER for granted.  Often.  But nights like this it stops me in my tracks and makes me realize how truly blessed I am.

I know she doesn't realize how much I love her and I appreciate her.  In fact, she often accuses me of having a favorite child and it's never her. I explain to her mothers do not have favorites, we really don't like any of our children most days. 😉  But I do have my favorite parts of each child.

And this girl has so many favorite parts.

She is my first born. My #1.  The child numerous doctors and specialists told me I’d never conceive. The baby they said I would never carry full term yet arrived 10 days past her due date. The infant that was to be born so early and weigh so little that she’d never survive, came barreling out at 9 lbs 10 oz. She was a miracle from the beginning and has been gracing me with miracles ever since.

She's my fashion adviser, a second mother to her brothers, my shopping partner.  She's the kid who always does what I ask the first time and without complaining...well, most of the time.  She can calm her brothers down in a way no one else can.  She makes me laugh with her quirky sense of humor and goofy antics.  She tries new things and when she succeeds, she's humble - when she fails, she does so with grace.

She's kind.  She's Beautiful.  She's my best friend.

Is she perfect?  Of course not.  No one is.  But she's perfect to me.

I know she’s only a freshman in high school but I’m already completely panicking over her leaving for college. I mean, she was just in kindergarten yesterday - or so it seems.  In the meantime, I'm going to relish in her presence and soak in all the time I have with my baby girl.  I will do so with my eyes wide open because last time I blinked she somehow ended up in high school.

I pray she continues to make good choices, remains kind and always comes to me when she needs someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on.

And I pray she continues to help her brother with his homework.