Samantha, my oldest, is SIX today.
Wow.
It's funny because when I think about this six year old I think about how she is part baby and part teenager. Maybe that is the beauty of an age like six...the innocence of childhood and the maturity that comes with awakening to the world, all rolled up in one darling Kindergarten size package.
I was telling a friend the other day that when Sam was three I felt like we had failed society and were doing a horrible job parenting. Yet now, my almost Kindergarten graduate, is a delightful, helpful, sweet, snuggly, nurturing DREAM (most of the time). Actually that is what her teacher has called her repeatedly this year...a dream student.
Here are SIX quick things I want to share about my SIX year old.
1. NURTURING. This is the word for Samantha. This child was made to nurture. She loves babies, loves toddlers, loves taking care of hurting classmates, LOVES her little sisters. And then there are the dolls, animals, and random trinkets she builds beds for and nurses back to health in her play. If I had to bet on it I would say she will go into teaching or medicine, and I can already tell you she will be a great mom someday.
2. INTERNATIONAL. Whether she is requesting to eat Indian food or sushi, raising money for Africa or asking when we can go to Kenya together, Sam is surely developing a world view. If she doesn't know where someone or something is from she usually guesses "Egyptian". Her favorite movie lately is Babies which pretty much combines #1 and #2 from this list. I love that she is learning about and getting interested in this big, beautiful, diverse world.
3. CREATIVE. We often joke about Sam that you could give her 10 random objects and she could either build something cool out of them or create a complicated story with them. I so admire her creativity and I know this will serve her well in life.
4. COLLECTOR OF LOST THINGS. I kind of thought this was a phase when she was 3. Apparently not. Sam loves finding stuff. Another translation of the word "stuff" could be garbage. I guess creativity lends itself to garbage-collecting.
5. EMOTIONAL. Oh my. Soooooo emotional. I'm not going to lie, this is a hard one for me sometimes. Her emotions wear me out. On a positive note, one cool way I see her emotions play out is in how she feels music. She loves music and I watch her be moved by certain music. She has also been moved to tears while watching a few movies. I am so excited I am going to have at least one kid to sob through movies with.
6. SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE. Sam loves God and has a beautiful and tender faith. Her "singing prayers" are our absolute favorite and we often get a summary of everything she knows and believes about God in the lyrics of her singing prayers. Lately Sam has been asking what she can do to "change the world." Wow. If she is asking this question at age 6 I have a feeling that she surely will change her world.
What a joy, what a privilege to mother this wonderful girl for 6 years. This precious girl who loves fancy dresses and jewelry, but is most happy when soaking wet and covered with sand at the beach. Our tiny little peanut who is strong and brave. Our feisty firecracker who is also ridiculously sensitive. The best big sister ever who sometimes just wants to be babied herself. What a complicated and delightful package she is.
6 years ago today 7 pounds and 11 ounces was placed in my arms and I was never the same. Thank you Samantha for making me a mother. Thank you for all that you bring to our family and to the world.
Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.
