A snapshot of 6

Dear Olivia Marie,

Happy 6^th Birthday!!

This time 6 years ago, we were just meeting. I can remember some things about that night….mostly how well my epidural worked and how sweet your daddy was during the whole process of ushering you into the world. I was so excited to hear your cry and look at your skinny little legs, bald head, and big feet….in true Bradley fashion. Mostly though, the first few days are a blur.

Since then, time has gone by faster each year it seems. So, I want to stop this moment in time and jot down a few things about the newly 6-year-old you….

You are a perfectionist and a control freak, but sadly not in the ways that keep the house tidy. Only in ways that make leaving the house on time in the mornings a miracle and remind me of myself quite often.

The baby talk and mispronunciations are all but gone. Now you say things like “I’ll consider your suggestion.” and “I just don’t feel like myself.” You also tell me that I’m the best mom in the world, unless you don’t get your way- then I’m the worst one. MVP of both categories works for me, I guess.

You love kindergarten. This has been the biggest blessing. I was afraid that your anxious nature would make school tough, but you’ve stepped up and made school your safe place. You love your teacher and have made lots of sweet friends. One boy proposed to you the second week of school! You didn’t want to let him down so you told him that you’d think about it- even though you “really won’t say yes.” I provided you with strong feminist philosophy on how it’s not your job as a girl to make the boy feel ok at the expense of your authentic feelings, but you just shrugged after my impassioned speech. We’ll loop back on this topic another time.

Physical touch is your love language. It takes 10 minutes and multiple group hugs before you’ll leave school at the end of each day. You prefer to be as close as possible to us and love snuggles and back rubs before bed. The other day at a family event, I was going to do my standard sneak out but as we got close to the door you said, “But we haven’t given everyone a hug goodbye yet.”  

We are often entertained by your elaborate make-believe storylines and living room musical performances. When asked if you’d like to take dance or music lessons, you told us no, because you are already good enough at it all.

I hope you remain confident and sweet as you grow. Your life has blessed us in ways that words cannot quite capture accurately. We love you so much. But if you could start sleeping through the night before you turn 7, that would be super.

Love,

Mommy

Worth Remembering

Dear Olivia Marie,

Forgive me for the delay in writing. 

I started these letters in an attempt to remember these years of our lives, knowing that time will pass quickly and the details of these crazy days will fade. Unfortunately, I let my insecurities stop me from returning to the electronic page- afraid of judgement over parenting choices or that my writing skills would be critiqued, fearful that my perspective and voice would have no place among the other reading material that exists and people would say "who cares" when my link appears in their newsfeed....

...and now I've lost so much time that cannot be retrieved. 

But the good news is that I remembered that you are my audience and these words and memories are beyond criticism because they are uniquely ours. Thank goodness I realized this in time. 

Because I want to remember these days. 

I want to remember how you love to show off your new rhyming skills by playing the rhyming game in the car.....which apparently means I say a word and you change the beginning sound to "sl"

M:"Car"

O:"Slar"

M:"Sky"

O:"Sly"

M:"Putt" 

O:"Slut" 

M:"Ok, new game!" 

I want to remember how at five years old you still want to be held in the morning, prefer company in the bathroom, and love the Kidz Bop station.

And how this morning you posed so confidently for a picture of your last day of preschool at Ms. Jennifer's. How you told me that you are proud of me for getting my new job, that you are going to eat junk food at Grana's tonight, and when you looked in the mirror you smiled and said "I'm beautiful."  

Totally agree. 

Daddy and I are so excited to spend this summer with you. This is our one and only summer with a five year old and I intend to remember it. 

Love,

Mommy