2. Write about something that brings you joy.
My girl turned 15 years old this week! Laina has been the happiest, easiest, most joyful child to raise and is such a breath of fresh air despite the fact that she has every right to pull the neglected middle child card.
I missed her Kindergarten graduation and I don’t even know why. I don’t remember seeing paperwork about it, she never spoke of it, and I was distracted by a busy home daycare I was running. Now she tells the story about how I was the only mom that wasn’t there and when she performed in front of the parents she locked eyes with someone else’s friendly-looking mother for support.
When she got a goldfish one year, she was convinced it was going to die while she was at school. I did not take her concerns seriously, shooed her onto the school bus, and the goldfish died while she was at school.
Instead of buying her a new desk for her room like her sister, I turned her baby crib into a functional work station…so that she could do her work…on…her…crib.
I strong-armed her into playing volleyball when she wanted to quit and promised to sign her back up for horse lessons if she played, but volleyball started and I never signed her up for horse lessons.
I told her I’d book her a hair appointment months ago and forgot. Now she’s dealing with quarantine hair that is so long she doesn’t even need a blanket to keep her warm anymore.
I showed up at her school wearing those pants.
I never got her the dog she’s been begging for. I forced her to play sports. I shamed her for eating an entire chocolate cake by herself.
All this, and she still loves me. In fact, when I asked her for more examples of times I’ve failed her and mentioned missing her Kindergarten graduation, she responded by saying, “Well, that was kind of my fault for not really bringing it up…you were a great mom.”
And she’s pretty darn easy to love.
Happy 15th birthday Laina!
You turned three.
You turned four.
You turned five.
You turned six.
You turned seven.
You turned eight.
You turned nine.
You turned ten.
You turned eleven.
You turned twelve.
You turned thirteen.
You turned fourteen
Patty says
I’m almost speechless. Well, comment-less.
For me, this doesn’t happen often.
At a loss here to focus on what I found most upsetting….you missing Laina’s graduation, the goldfish, the desk, horse lessons, hair appointment, not getting her a dog….whew! Kind of loved her eating an entire chocolate cake, though. Like who hasn’t? Or wanted to?
But….but….you…wearing “those” pants to her game?
Bingo!
Happy Birthday, Laina!!
Mama Kat says
That’s the one thing that will GET to Laina…embarrassing her. God forbid I approach her in any way at a school event. lol!
John Holton says
Happy birthday to Laina! Both your girls have become such beautiful young women… and she’s right: you ARE a great moim.
I love the story about the goldfish. My guess is you didn’t try to replace it before she got home. And her eating an entire cake (and I would guess it was not a small one) sounds like something I’d do…
Mama Kat says
I think I had a gaggle of kids home with and couldn’t replace it fast enough, but that would have been the best idea! lol
Kim says
Happy birthday to your beautiful Laina! She sounds like a very loving and patient soul, and that is going to take her so far in this life, as you already know. I’m still slow at getting my own post up, but I hope to at some point before….next week?
Have a great week, Kat!
Mama Kat says
Thank you! She really is one of a kind. :) Sounds like you’re about as slow with your blog posts as I am with my YouTube videos! lol
Abby says
Happy Birthday to Laina! Way to roll with what life dishes out.
And hey, if you don’t have multiple guilt trips going, are you even a mom?
Mama Kat says
Mom guilt absolutely comes with the territory!
Paula Kiger says
What a gift – all of it – her grace, your efforts. I can’t believe I’ve been following/interacting with you since she was so very little. <3
Mama Kat says
Her grace…that’s her middle name you know! :) It really is crazy. I’ve been writing about her since she was a toddler!