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Madeleine, 16
Sixteen things about Maddy in honor of her 16th birthday:
When she was little she didn't really speak until she could do whole sentences. Until then, Lauren did the talking for her or she mmmm'ed. (Example. I'd ask: "Maddy, do you want to sit here or over there?" She would mmmm back the answer: mmm mmm mmmm [three syllables=over there].) She had everyone worried: the pediatrician, the early intervention folks, the speech therapist. And then the word dam burst and she regaled us non-stop. When she was good and ready.
Instead of "yes," when she was very young she said "aye" like a Scottish lass.
She had an important imaginary friend named Wendy.
When she was three, she was obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and Charlotte's Web.
She desperately wanted Sam's name to be Wilbur.
The day after Sam came home from the hospital, she brought me her binkies and diapers and said "I'm a big girl now. I don't need these." Just like that.
When she was about 7, she was obsessed with the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman. She wanted to have an Underground Railroad birthday party. With her encouragement (insistence) we visited the Harriet Tubman homestead as part of our family vacation.
When she was about 10, she was obsessed with World War II and the holocaust. Sometimes I had to do some explaining after playdates when the friend would excitedly tell her parent at pickup time, "We played Holocaust!"
She's a picky eater. Most of her daily intake rotates with a food cast of bananas, potatoes, toast, caesar salad, carrots, cucumbers, pasta, butter, bacon, oatmeal, and cereal. I rejoice when she admits a new food choice to her reportoire, especially if it is colorful. (For her birthday dinner this year, she requested salad, twice-baked potatoes, and rolls. And a lemon meringue pie.)
She has a tender heart and loves a good cry. Whether she's talking about her school reading assignment in Romeo and Juliet or watching a movie with any emotional element, the tears flow. (I think she finds it cathartic, which I totally understand. Let's just say she comes by it honestly.)
She has a long fuse but you know for certain when she's reached the end of it.
She's very observant and will always be the first to notice a new haircut, a tear-blotched face, or the fact you've had several doctors appointments lately.
She knows what she wants and goes after it with gusto and good, hard, incremental effort.
She hides struggles, hurts, disappointments and insecurities with a deceptive cheerfulness.
She has high hopes and aims accordingly, even if those high hopes every once in a while lead to disappointment (see above).
She has a pied piper quality and has friends of all types and ages. She's just honestly delighted by connecting with people, especially kids. One of my friends recently mentioned that when her young daughters play make-believe they take turns with their favorite roles: one pretends to be a princess and the other pretends to be Maddy. :)
Here's to our Maddy girl and a great year ahead. We're so lucky to have her in our family.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Reader Comments (8)
What a lovely tribute. Wouldn't we all like to say the same of our daughters?
You have me worried. Have you had too many doctor's appointments lately??
Oh, sorry, Rochelle. I should have been more specific. No, it's just that a couple of years ago I had a series of appts. all within a short time (nothing serious, just trying to figure out some intestinal aches and pains). I thought I was being all stealth but Maddy was the one who noticed and said "didn't you just go to the doctor? Are you okay?" You can't get much past her. Or you! :)
Maddy is one of my favorite people. I read this out loud to my kids and it gave us a much needed laugh this morning-- especially the Underground Railroad birthday party and 'playing Holocaust.' Oh my.
Happy birthday to your fabulous, beautiful girl. I'm so glad she is now old enough to date one of my sons. ;) I'm sending one out to Boston next year, you know.
I feel lucky that I've met her; she's delightful. And I'll never forget her smile when I told her I was her mom's friend. She clearly thinks the world of you.
Oh, that first picture is so precious it almost breaks your heart!
What a girl, that miss M. She is, and always has been, one of my all-time favorite people in the world. I will never forget her (and Lauren's) kindness to my little Hannah, and the Princess/Bunny tea party they threw her in the attic. She is beautiful, inside and out. I pray that Hannah is just like her. Happy birthday, Maddy!
Oh, that first picture is the sweetest! I thought I liked Maddy before-now I just adore her. FYI, Maddy's name was mentioned at our dinner table on Sunday...and not by me. :)
What a great Maddy tribute. She is unique in wonderful ways. She always looked like she knew something very deep, even when she was very young. The first photo captures that. I love her spirit, her compassion, her passion, her beautiful face. If I was her age, I would certainly want her for my friend. She does have a magnetism and a joie de vivre sp? that is so adorable. I remember that it was her intention to one day be President of the United States. We should be so lucky.
That first photo is my favorite. Such thick hair for someone so small. My two oldest have ridiculously thick hair now (like mine) but when they are little it is not nearly as beautiful as that.