Dear Daughter,
Today you turned five. This year is a BIG deal. In the fall, you go to kindergarten. You're off to see the world!
"Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body." - Elizabeth Stone
You have been walking, and talking your mind for some time now. You completed your second year of preschool this spring.
You have proven time and time again that you are incredibly empathetic. I feel strongly that this is one of the traits that makes you a kind friend. You want to be friends with everyone you meet. You don't understand if/when someone doesn't want to be your friend and can be hurt by that realization. Likewise, if a friend isn't kind to you, you have learned with time and experience that it's ok to take a break from that friend. Friends are hard.
But you have navigated social situations with ease and maturity. You are far from shy. I have seen this, perhaps most evident, at the pool we belong to. You are friends with other kids your age, but also with older kids. Divers on my team, for example. And when you wanted to learn how to use a Rainbow Loom, you found that one of the older swimmers was making bracelets and you sat down next to her and started to learn from her, through observation, and savvy negotiation skills. You, along with a small following that ensued hatched a plan to work as a team to make bracelets and sell them for a small fee, splitting the proceeds among the "workers" and giving half to the pool. Likewise, you seem to see yourself on par with the lifeguards and the other staff at the pool. While one of the older swimmers was holding a swim clinic, you somehow ended up directing traffic and "helping". The next day, you were absolutely certain that you did actually wok at he pool. I'm still waiting on that paycheck! You do not sit idly by watching the "action." You ARE the action. You are a do-er and I am excited to watch you DO whatever you are meant to.
Speaking of friends, shortly before your last birthday, you met your BEST friend. The kid who does and probably always will idolize you. That is Elliot, of course!
For the most part, you are sweet and gentle with him. You don't want him to miss anything. You want him to play with you. This has, on occasion, prompted you to WAKE HIM UP. When he was SLEEPING! I will remind you of moments like this when you have you own children if you choose to do so and are so blessed. Don't worry though, he wants to be awake with you and he wants to play with you. He doesn't want to miss anything. So you are clearly doing him a favor. Me, not so much. Before he was born, you were certain that you knew everything there was to know about babies and could totally handle things should I want to go out for a night on the town. Confidence has never been lacking. You quickly recognized that, perhaps, you did not know everything about babies and had a little to learn in that department. That is a huge accomplishment. Admitting when you need to learn something. Some adults in this household have trouble with that one. Actually, both adults.
Speaking of learning new things, you started taking swim lessons last summer after your fourth birthday, continuing through the winter and this summer. When you took your first week of swim lessons, daddy asked if you would be able to swim at the end of the week. In short, no. Swimming is something you readily admitted to needing more time to learn. And you have always been clear when you were scared of a new skill or nervous. My goal is for you to be comfortable in the water. Able to swim too, but first and foremost comfortable. Well! Let me tell you a secret. You CAN swim. You just haven't fully transferred that to the "big" pool yet. You swim in the baby pool without touching the bottom. Water is water. In theory, you can do the same thing in the big pool. When you are ready. But, since you are a year older, you CAN touch the bottom because you are ever so slightly taller. And this has given you confidence and comfort in the pool. To the point that, if given the option, you wouldn't get out. Ever.
Which reminds me of another area in which you've matured. Last summer, you would get really irritated when another child would say that they were taller than you (they were) or older (also true). You didn't seem to "get" the concept. This summer, you do. And you don't seem to get so angry about the topic. You understand that it is not some insult. Just a matter of simple math. Which is good, because given your genetics, being shorter than someone else is just going to be the way it is. And given the way you play easily with older kids, you'll continue to be younger than someone else too. But, as you age, you also are older than some of the other kids. And you've shown kindness to younger kids as well.
I could probably tell lots of stories. A year is a long time to recap. Let me just wrap it up by saying that I am proud of you. I am proud of your kindness, your tenacity, your empathy, your maturity, your sweetness, and your comfort in your own skin. I am proud of you for always being who you are. Your daddy, brother, and I love you very much, Cecelia Ann. Looking forward to another year of you!
Love, Mommy
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