This past year has been one for the record books, and if 2020 has taught us anything, it has taught us that life is crazy and life with kids is even crazier. It has been a year full of ups and downs and challenging conversations, but you realize through all of that how resilient kids are.
Now as life is inching its way back to normal, there are times where I miss sheltering in place. While everything slowed down, it did provide a unique perspective on how to be present and enjoy the limited time that we will have where our kids think we are semi-cool even if we are terrible teachers.
Situations were different for every family, but I enjoyed the chance to slow down because despite this rare gift of time, one thing that I couldn’t slow down was my baby girl growing up.
Today she turns 8 years old, and as excited as I am for that, I am already looking back and missing the time that has passed.
It seems like yesterday that we got the call that Grace had been born and we went to meet her. She stole our hearts from the beginning and I know that God knew in his heart that we needed Grace. From the beginning she began setting our family on a schedule, and has been a glue that keeps everything together.
Although Grace is turning 8, she seems ready to be out on her own. She is an independent old soul and full of energy and life. She may also be one of the funniest and strongest people I have ever met.
As we celebrated her last day of being seven years old, we had a super proud parent moment. Yesterday in school, there was another girl who was being bullied about the way she looks (scary to think that it has already started in second grade), but Grace and her friend provided comfort to the girl and told her not to worry about what other people say because she was the way that God made her and that was special. I quickly started racking my brain to see if that was simply a repeat of some amazing advice I had given her in the past…sadly I don’t think it was. That is just who Grace is.
There was also another incident yesterday where a child was having a bit of a breakdown in school (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t had one of those almost daily), and the teacher said Grace walked over picked up the child’s belongings and helped to comfort the child and resolve the situation. Again, I would love to take credit for that, but I think that is all her.
I know that no matter what, she is going to do amazing things as she grows up, and I look forward to being a part of all of them. But to steal a line from her latest birthday video, right now…
The world’s just spinning
A Little too fast
If things don’t slow down soon
we might not last
So just for the moment, let’s be still
– The head and the heart
As much as I ask her to stop growing up, I think I am losing that battle, so I will continue to enjoy every moment I have. Happy Birthday Goose!!! We love you so much, we are so proud of you, and we thank God that you helped complete our family. May this next year be the best one yet!
Our Modern Family 