Sister…
I got off the phone with you this morning and I came to a realization. I don’t want you to grow up. I mean I do but I don’t.
Life with you for me started out when you were just 3 years old. When I was first introduced to you, you were in the tub and after I said hello to you your immediate response was “look what I can do” as you dived down under the water. You would go around dancing and singing, you were always smiling so oblivious to the stresses and the complexity of this world around.
You wanted to spend all your time with your family we were your world. Grandma, Grandpa, your mom, dad and myself we could put a bubble around you and only allow what we wanted into your world. Your opinion was our opinion; the things you liked were what we let into your little protected world. We could tell you anything and you did not ever question it.
I got off the phone with you this morning and I came to a realization. I don’t want you to grow up. I mean I do but I don’t.
Life with you for me started out when you were just 3 years old. When I was first introduced to you, you were in the tub and after I said hello to you your immediate response was “look what I can do” as you dived down under the water. You would go around dancing and singing, you were always smiling so oblivious to the stresses and the complexity of this world around.
You wanted to spend all your time with your family we were your world. Grandma, Grandpa, your mom, dad and myself we could put a bubble around you and only allow what we wanted into your world. Your opinion was our opinion; the things you liked were what we let into your little protected world. We could tell you anything and you did not ever question it.
You have accomplished many things in this life so far.You have mastered playing the piano, you have a beautiful voice in which I know you got from your mama Mindy, and you started your school career with great zeal looking forward every day for the next school day. You still exceed all our expectations in school; you have high standards for your work and strive to be the best. You are so self motivated.
When you were 4 you announced that you wanted to be a veterinarian. You have not lost focus; you now wish to be a doctor. You have not decided what kind of doctor yet, you have gone from pediatric oncology, plastic surgery, to your current choice OBGYN. Maddy you will make a wonderful doctor no matter what kind you choose to be.
You now have a social life; this is the hardest I think, speaking for myself. No more are we your entire world and it is hard for me to wrap my head around that. You now want to go to football games, dances, go to the mall with your friends. Our gut instinct is to fight it, to say No when you want to do things other than what we have planned in our minds for you. Just know Maddy that No doesn't always mean No, sometimes it means we are uncomfortable with you growing up, us trying to avoid the inevitable.
Usually after we have had time to think about things you are granted your wish, you are logical, you are responsible, you will sit down with us and weigh out all the options, we try to give you the space during our discussions to come up with your own answer. You acknowledge that sometimes you have to make hard decisions that you know are right but, not easy.
When you were 4 you announced that you wanted to be a veterinarian. You have not lost focus; you now wish to be a doctor. You have not decided what kind of doctor yet, you have gone from pediatric oncology, plastic surgery, to your current choice OBGYN. Maddy you will make a wonderful doctor no matter what kind you choose to be.
You now have a social life; this is the hardest I think, speaking for myself. No more are we your entire world and it is hard for me to wrap my head around that. You now want to go to football games, dances, go to the mall with your friends. Our gut instinct is to fight it, to say No when you want to do things other than what we have planned in our minds for you. Just know Maddy that No doesn't always mean No, sometimes it means we are uncomfortable with you growing up, us trying to avoid the inevitable.
Usually after we have had time to think about things you are granted your wish, you are logical, you are responsible, you will sit down with us and weigh out all the options, we try to give you the space during our discussions to come up with your own answer. You acknowledge that sometimes you have to make hard decisions that you know are right but, not easy.
This year has been an adjustment to all of us, you included. You decided of your own free will to go to a different high school than the other kids you have gone to school with from the beginning, because it benefits your educational growth and life plan.
We are proud of the girl you are. We look forward to the woman you will become. We just have to step back, take a deep breath and know that deep down you are still the little girl who thinks we all are your world, but you have to step out and become a person of your own.
I know I have said a lot, to sum it all up; we love you, respect you, and understand you have to spread your wings. Although it may be uncomfortable for us, please be patient as we are doing the best we can to understand that we are not loosing our little girl we are gaining a beautiful young woman who in our hearts will ALWAYS be our little girl.
We love you and are so very proud of you.
We are proud of the girl you are. We look forward to the woman you will become. We just have to step back, take a deep breath and know that deep down you are still the little girl who thinks we all are your world, but you have to step out and become a person of your own.
I know I have said a lot, to sum it all up; we love you, respect you, and understand you have to spread your wings. Although it may be uncomfortable for us, please be patient as we are doing the best we can to understand that we are not loosing our little girl we are gaining a beautiful young woman who in our hearts will ALWAYS be our little girl.
We love you and are so very proud of you.
