Happy 6th Birthday!

Just a few more days to vote for me at Skinny Scoop Top 25 Mom Bloggers of 2012.  Please please please vote for me!

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Dear Marie,

I hope that you had a wonderful birthday.  I know that we got off to a rocky start.  You did not love your new bike . . . yet.  Just wait until you can throw a few Barbie dolls in your bike pack and zoom down the street to play with your friends.  There will be a time that you can’t believe that riding your hot wheels was your preferred method of outdoor transportation.  Just trust me on this one.

I think the Barbie themed party went off without a hitch.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the Just Dance Kids Dance Off and the seemingly unlimited amount of dum-dum lollypops and ring pops.  But the thing I will remember most was your request for crudité.  You have been reading Fancy Nancy Tea Party for about a month, and you wanted to have crudité for your birthday party. 

Crudité?  Not cut-up veggies.  Crudité. 

Not a lot of six year olds know what crudité is. 

Which brings me to my next point.  Yes, you are six in calendar years, but you are wise beyond six.

You really have the whole reading and writing thing down.  You write stories and create ideas for websites (usually with your own brand of characters you developed).  You design fashion sketches.

I’m so proud of you.  Being smart and focused - it’s a good thing.  But what makes my heart swell up with pride is the good person you are becoming. You are incredibly kind to others.  Not just because I told you to always practice kindness, but because you understand the importance of it.  I remember I was telling you that it’s OK to be proud of how well you do on your spelling tests, but it’s not kind to brag about it to others especially when they might be struggling.  You excused yourself from the table, got (yet another) Fancy Nancy book and turned to a page that showed Fancy Nancy taking her spelling test with ease while the other students were having a difficult time.

You innocently asked, “Is this what you mean?”

I replied with great admiration, “Yes.  That is exactly what I mean.”

I have yet to meet another six year old that is able to process her emotions and empathize with others quite like you.  I know plenty of adults aren’t yet where you are.

Like I said, you are wise beyond your years.  

Some of your friends get this, but others don’t.  Being smart and being able to communicate; it’s a blessing and a curse (believe me, I know.  And it’s another post for another time).

I couldn’t be more proud of you, and I feel incredibly lucky to be your mother.  So here’s to another year – may you always be true to yourself and may the light always shine bright in your eyes.

I love you forever,

Mommy