The First Ten

Dear Ane,

Ten years.  A whole decade.  That’s how long it has been since that first dramatic day when you finally were convinced to make your grand entrance into this world.  I remember each age and each stage so clearly, and yet it all seemed to pass in a blur.  A single blink, and here you are, ten years old, and I can feel time slipping through my fingers.

As you so gleefully informed me, you are now in your “tweens.”  While you are excited about it, I must confess that I am rather dreading this.  We are in a stage of change.  Each year is going to pass more quickly than the next.  I am going to lose my little girl, and in her place, I’m going to have first a “tween” and then a teen.  So, you’ll have to forgive me if I sigh a little bit and long for the days when your mind was filled with princesses and dolls and dress-up and make-believe.  You haven’t quite left that all behind yet, but I can see the signs.  I know those days are numbered.

Growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, Ane… but you’ll never believe me.  Like all of us, that’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself.

And as I realize that you are ten, I also realize that there is so much you don’t know – because I haven’t taught you yet.  I’m so used to doing things for all of you, that there are things you haven’t learned.  Like how to sort laundry.  Iron a shirt.  Load a dishwasher.  Fold socks.  Yes, you do know how to scrub a bathtub and are learning how to bake and cook.  So I guess I haven’t failed completely.  We still have time.  Just not a lot.

And yes, you are quite competent in baby and toddler care.  Although you can get quite squeamish sometimes about diapers.  You’re going to have to work on that one if you ever want to be a baby-sitter.

Ane, there is so much you have learned in the last ten years, and so much more to come in the next ten.  And there are things I wish I could spare you from learning, too.  Hopefully, you will let me and your Dad mitigate some of those things.  We love you so much and only want the best for you.  I know you believe  that now – I hope you believe that in another year.

You are my delight and my joy, my precious daughter.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”  2 Thessalonians 3:16a

Happy 10th birthday, cupcake girl!

Love,
Mom

This entry was posted on Friday, December 27th, 2013 at 12:55 am and is filed under Announcements, Children.
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