But my kids are actually pretty incredible. Individually incredible. As a group, they just fight and leave granola wrappers all over my dang den. But as stand alone people...wow. I just need to not mess them up.
My oldest is 10. She's the most eldest of any eldest child you have ever met. A neurotic list maker. A terrible worrier. Brilliant. Honest. She started reading The Boxcar Children when she was four years old. Now she writes her own books. Short stories. Poems. Scripts.
I could never write fiction, what with my complete lack of imagination, but she can and she does. Everywhere I look I find stray sheets of paper. Stuffed under the couch. Jammed in her closet. On the shelf, almost hidden between the covers of two books. Snippets of stories in process. Characters I know she knows. She doesn't create them. She meets them and she and writes down what they say.
"...and maybe if she hadn't left her curtains open, she wouldn't have gone through any of that! But I cannot tell a lie, dear reader, and though you (and, admittedly, I) might be scared out of your wits, you must read on and face your fear."
or
"I love sunshine, rain, and snow. I love forces, tornadoes, heat, tsunamis, hurricanes, thunder, and lightening. Don't get me wrong- I hate it when it hurts and kills people. But doesn't it look beautiful sweeping across the sky? I want to be a weather reporter. Or an actress, but I already am. I was in a ten-minute movie about weather."
It's a strange thing to read what your child has written in those alone moments outside when other kids are riding bikes or collecting rocks. Underneath her everyday awkwardness, her silly jokes, her wrist full of silly bandz is a whole mysterious world. One that I can't ever fully know. There she is, my little girl. But she's not so little. And really, was she ever truly mine?
Sweetness! She sounds absolutely brilliant. Methinks she inherited her writing genius from her mother. Truly. xoxo
ReplyDeleteShe has a gift. Truly special.Not only can she write, she has a great deal of insight. That can be a scary combination for a mother : )
ReplyDeletewhat a sweet girl. she is a lucky girl to have you as her biggest fan.
ReplyDelete(aaaaaaaaannnnnd, OMG dweej. you have 209 followers. you are famous! i just felt a little hillbilly typing that last sentence.) xoxoxo
I love my hillbilly! You are so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, heartfelt post. I hope you save this and give it to her someday special...graduation, wedding, or when she first gets published. :)
ReplyDeleteAwwww, I almost cried at your ending. Wanting her to stay little a while longer as you just met.
ReplyDeleteShe writes beautifully! I have no doubt she's ever type of amazing you say she is, if not a bit more so!
ReplyDeleteOh how sweet. What a talented little writer you have. Isn't it amaing how muh they are their own persons even from the beginning? What a treat it is to gradually find out who they are!
ReplyDeleteUgh...for some reason Blogger is not picking me up from my profile!! Anyway...
ReplyDeleteMy oldest turns 10 in about 7 weeks. I think she would really like your oldest. Too bad we don't live close or know each other in real life or anything. My eldest is the most eldest, too. Lists, writing (albeit not fiction, or poetry...she seems to enjoy factual and inspirational writing)...she entirely LOVES being an oldest sister.
I loved reading about your eldest and you're so right...the time flies so quickly and before we know it, they'll be off on their own. But we'll still be amazed at them, I'm sure.
Thanks for sharing your daughter with us. :)
Michelle (at http://michelle-endlessstrength.blogspot.com
Oh, this breaks my heart, but in a good way. I have a 1-year-old daughter, and can't wait to see the kind of person she will be. If she's anything like your girl, I think I will be one proud momma. What an amazing writer she is already!
ReplyDeletewow. this was beautiful! She reminds me a lot of me when I was that age... and its wasnt until I had my own daughter that my parents told me something along the lines of what you just shared... only I wish they would have shared that pride and love and amazement with me then... maybe I would have cultivated it into something really special... maybe your daughter is trying to inspire you to take a stab at writing (your blog is an ode to your fabulousness and creativness already) even if its just a letter to her, telling her what you just told us!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. She might have talent for creativity that you don't think you have, but how is she in the garden?
ReplyDeleteexcellent point! I am definitely victorious in the garden competition ;)
ReplyDeleteThe awesomeness of our kids is definitely bitersweet. I wish I could just enjoy the epic cool that is Liam, but every time he blows me away with his awesome, I immediately think how he is 1/2 way to college.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like my oldest! And it's so true that kids are much better individually than collectively. Although I'm pretty sure it's my youngest who is leaving all the granola bar wrappers. :)
ReplyDeleteSo sweet. She sounds amazing. My daughter is very different from me already in some ways. She is much more outgoing and less fearful. I hope I can foster that to continue even though those are not natural tendencies for me. --Kara again (darn blogger or google or somebody)
ReplyDeleteI would so read one of her books! Get that girl published!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful girl, inside and out! That is too cool that she is already a blossoming writer. Would love a guest post from her :) Think she would oblige?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your beautiful daughter with us. Our children are truly gifts & treasures from above. Katie
ReplyDeleteAwwwww ... My watery eyes are from allergies i swear!
ReplyDeleteSo sad, insightful, yet, happy, all rolled into one. Your daughter (children) is blessed to have you as a mother, who appreciates and values her spirit, talents and individuality.
ReplyDeleteAs the mother of two grown daughters and one almost-grown son, I tell you, treasure these childhood days. Yet, when they become adults, a whole new relationship forms and one that you will value just as much.
That is so nice to hear Audrey....in the mess of the every day, I often forget to treasure my moments with them. I'm happy to hear that I'll be given another chance to treasure them as adults as well :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post. My daughter does the same thing with lists and little books. She's so ready to put something up on Amazon already. Lol.
ReplyDeleteAll you can give is love...and it's more than enough...That was beautiful Dweej!
ReplyDeleteI left you a comment after your comment on my blog, just so you know.
ReplyDeletethanks,
Mamajulep
This one made me cry a bit, as my brilliant daughter is 9 1/2 now, and it all seems to be going so fast. This was so beautiful, and eloquent. I loved reading it.
ReplyDeleteYou keep making me cry. What's up with that? Your beautiful daughter, your inspirational videos, and my lack of sleep do not a good combination make. Sending you lots of love ...
ReplyDeleteWe're just two peas in a pod, that's all. A pod of tears ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, 10? That's pretty awesome. I look forward to picking her book off a shelf one day :)
ReplyDeleteadorable post about your darling daughter. Man, she has a writing talent!!! Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteoh, btw...congrats on the nomination on ftlob! whoot!
So sweet. And she's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that she writes all that, what a fantastic gift!
I love that she was reading The Boxcar Children when she was four. I LOVED those books growing up. Amazing.
Great post!
I am starting to reach that point in my life where my mom is going to have to let go. I am sure she feels the same way, even though I am quite a bit older than your kids. Are mom's ever really ready to let go?
ReplyDeletesounds like you have a future author in the works. That is really cool. Save these writings. It is easy to let this type stuff get torn and missing and discarded. These are priceless.
ReplyDeleteSo so so so very true, sad, scary, exciting all at the same time. Trust me. I just watched my baby take her first steps into a Prom dress and now she's removed the training wheels to drive off to college.
ReplyDeletei LOVED reading this post!!!! makes me feel all warm and squishy inside!!!! i remember reading the boxcar children books as a kid and loving them too!!! your daughter certainly has a way with words....and an old soul. what a lucky mother you are to have such a little inspiration such as her! now, let's have a guest post from this little talent!!
ReplyDeleteWow, she sounds amazing. You're obviously doing a great job :) Keep on lovin'
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. It's incredible the things you can learn from your children (not that I've had that experience) but I cannot wait to have that opportunity :)
ReplyDeleteEverything you just said is how I feel about my oldest (he's very much the same kind of kid as yours) but I however have never been able to express it like you do! So if anyone asks me about my kid, I'll just come on over and plagiarize you!
ReplyDeleteThe Mr. just commented to me about what a good writer you are!
Thank you, sweetie! The Lord knew what He was doing when he had them be born first, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteTell the Mr. I said thanks to him too :)
She sounds wonderful. A 10 year old that writes 'dear reader'?
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely doing something right with this child rearing biz Dweej :)
Aww, she sounds wonderful! You're doing a wonderful job as her mommy!!
ReplyDelete"Don't grow up just yet, we've only just met." Oy. Of COURSE I was in tears. My little girl is 10 years old too, and extremely creative and worrisome and way-too-grown-up for her age. That is exactly how I feel about her. Thank you for the beautiful words. Have you ever thought about writing country music? That little sentence could make you that billionairess right quick darlin'! ;D
ReplyDeleteWell, I do beleive we've already discussed our "when I'm a billionairess" plans. I could use a good party right about now ;). I'd better git to singin'!
ReplyDeleteOh, Dweej, what an awesome kid. When I have kids, I want an awesome kid like that. She's such a good writer, too. Wow, I feel your pride, girl. What an amazing thing that must be.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to believe, looking at her picture, she is that same tiny baby you were holding in your arms just . . . wasn't it yesterday? Has it really been that long since I last saw you?! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteShe is growing into an incredible young lady. I never expected anything less, considering her parents. :)
Every age is my favorite age! My kids are 19 and 25 and still as precious to me as when they were infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school age, tweens, teens and now young adults. They change and grow and continue to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteNice post, Dweej, you good mother, you!
This little girl is so lucky to have a mama who appreciates her talents and nurtures them. I desperately hope that I do this for my little girl. You've got serious mom skillz, Dweej!
ReplyDelete