You've probably already heard the saying "They Grow Up So Fast" a million times before, but it is so true. It seems like just yesterday that I gave birth to our daughter in the comfort of our own home (with a mid-wife of course). And yet as I look at her now, a lovely, kind hearted, tall, proficient reader, with her own fashion ideas, ready to enter first grade, I realize that she is definitely not a baby any more.
How did this happen? I blinked and here we are six years later. And it's not just the number of years that have passed that amaze me, but the maturity level I see in my sweet princess. She says things to her Mamaw and Grandma like, "Well, actually that's not how it happened." What six year old says things like that? Or the time when she wanted a dog and we borrowed MaMaw's new puppy for an overnight to see what the experience would be like. The next morning after having cleaned up dog waste and being up half the night to let the puppy out she told her Father, "I have thought it over Daddy, and I have decided that I will just share MaMaw's puppy with her."
But nothing made it more evident that we have a six year old going on forty then yesterday's trip to the dentist. Her father took her to get her teeth cleaned and she wanted to go back by herself. He told her that he might just go back with her anyway and she pleaded with him to let her go alone. "I just want to get this over with so I can go home and take a nap," she said, much to the amusement of an elderly lady sitting in the waiting room. He finally consented but told her if they wanted to take x-rays she should tell them to come and talk to him.
Now our daughter has been privy to many a conversation at our house about the ill effects of x-rays, especially on children; but it never occurred to me that she would understand and retain this knowledge and use it for her benefit. But she did. She went back to the cleaning room with the dental assistant and sat in the chair so proud of herself. The dental assistant then informed her that they would start with some x-rays to which my daughter responded by saying, "No." According to my daughter who is usually very accurate, the dental assistant looked at her and said, "Okay, I guess we will skip that."
While I am slightly saddened that the time has flown by so quickly, I am at the same time overjoyed that we are raising a loving, decisive, intelligent girl who will grow into womanhood with a strong sense of who she is and what she wants out of life. It comforts me to know that as she grows she will find her place in this world; a world which I believe will be a better place because she is in it. Signing off for now with wishes for a bright and beautiful day!
