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This girl
This girl turned 15 a week or so ago. Without even asking permission. I'm in denial.
Oh, those oldest kids. They really know how to stick it to their parents and they don't even know they're doing it! {I can say that because I am an oldest child. And married one. Married very young, too, thereby proving my unknowingly-stick-it-to-the-parents, oldest child theory.} Every milestone is bittersweet for us poor parents: excited and joyful at the growth and a bit shocked and sad and...aging at the same time. Time doesn't seem to listen to our whining and pleading to PLEASE SLOW DOWN. We're turning into ancestors before our very own eyes.
But if there's one lesson parenting brings, it's this: it's not all about you.
Sometimes parenting reminds me of a certain Grover book. (Stay with me here. You know...the blue, furry, spazzy Muppet?) We have long loved There's a Monster at the End of this Book, both when I was growing up and with my own kids. Grover spends every page pleading with the reader "please, please, oh please don't turn the page. 'Cause there's a monster at the end of this book! Didn't you read the title?" He tries to tape the pages, he builds a brick wall, but the pages keep turning, closer and closer to the end of the story. Then, of course, at the end HE's the monster at the end of the book.
That's me, trying to slow down the story, trying to maintain the happy status quo. I haven't decided what is the monster at the end of this book. A grown child? An empty nest? Regrets? Monster me? Whatever it is, it won't be what I fear, I'm sure. Maybe it will even be cute and furry (but we already got a dog). I just want a certain Miss L to go back and curl up on my lap for a few more stories again. Is that too much to ask?
I thought so.
Anyway, what was I saying about it's not all about me? Oh, yes.
Happy {belated} Birthday, Lauren! You're a fabulous, beautiful, loving, stubborn, talented, sunny bright spot in our lives. You go, girl. Just not too fast.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Reader Comments (12)
this is exactly how I'm feeling with Laura starting junior high today...
Jen
Oh my, Lauren is BEE-YOU-TI-FUL!
Next year you'd better get hubby a shotgun for her 16th birthday. He can invite her dates to sign their name on a shell and remind them "You've got my daughter and I've got a bullet with your name on it!"
My baby is 16. It's freaky!
What a darling girl you have. Driver's ed and a learner's permit are in your future. I love when my kids can drive. Teaching them is another story.
Oh wow! You must be so proud. She's gorgeous.
That girl of yours sure is a beauty. I can remember when she would come over and help me/be tortured by Hannah after school. How is she getting so old?
Happy birthday, Lauren!
wow. she is stunning. absolutely stunning.
so, um, good luck with that.
and i LOVED that grover book! i had forgotten all about it, but as you described it, i could vividly recall the pictures.
The Grover book is also a favorite around here.
Amen to the stop the clock pettition. I can't stand it! (Or the aging-for that matter!)
{We just finished watching "John Adams" and I love the line where Abigail says: "Old age is dark and unlovely..." good one.}
And yeah,
good luck with that unbelievably gorgeous 15 year old girl you have there. What a beauty.
HAPPY BELATED 15TH BIRTHDAY LAUREN
You must be so proud Annie, Lauren is beautiful and she always looks so happy.
Lindsay
Oh Annie, the best is yet to come. Daughters are really the best!
That was the perfect post and exactly how I feel about my oldest. I just sent him off to
7th grade this morning...BTW, Lauren is beautiful!!! We also love The Monster book-my favorite is the paperclip page and the end of course.
I love your comparison to the grover book. I GOT IT! I'm slow, but that hit a nerve. SO like me. My oldest passed me in height this week at her check-up and we got haircuts togther. She came out looking like she is 17.
Also love the Grover comparison...it's totally how I'm feeling about my Jane and kindergarten. It's just coming and coming and no matter how much I deny it, it's not stopping. I don't even want to think about 15!