Happy 3rd Birthday

Dear Aubrey

No one can prepare you for the day you become a parent. People throw all kinds of advice at you, but it doesn't matter. No person is ever prepared for that moment when another life, one you created and nurtured with every breath of every day, is laid upon you for the first time.  I remember being so overcome, almost like I was watching someone else.  

While I was pregnant with you I talked to you a lot. Almost always these conversations happened in my head. When you were born it felt like we were still connected in the same way. It's a bit unexplainable but I pray there is a day my words won't be needed and you will know this feeling on your own.  

Watching you grow for three years now has been without question the most inspiringly beautiful thing I have ever seen.  Everyday you teach me why we are here. I see the way you love without question. You have a quiet way of making almost anyone feel like they are connected to this world and loved so wholly.  I hope you never stop.

Your imagination is so wild and overgrown that I sometimes wonder if we really do have unicorns in our house.  Your enthusiasm easily matches your daddy's, and that's saying something!   Your smile brings an ease and comfort to any situation. 

Happy 3rd Birthday.

Love you to the most. 

Mom  

To Drain or not to drain?

Aubrey is absolutely convinced that anything can go down the drain, no matter it's size, including a human.  When I am home alone with the girls the routine is that I get Aubs out first dress her while sitting beside the tub, then take Elise out. See Elise has to go second or she has a fear she might miss out on something and throws an enormous fit. 

The last couple of weeks Aubrey panics that we won't get Elise out of the tub fast enough and she is going to head down the drain with the water.  Here is my predicament - The good mom would calm her child and reassure her this is not possible and maybe talk through the physics of this….then the other EQUALLY as good Mom has a little fun.  It took me a week to decide which I wanted to proceed with. 

So, two nights ago this happened again. I was tired and have been alone for a few days so wasn't really on my best game. I did hesitate though…Here is our conversation

Best Sisters

Aubrey :  (she does this nervous laugh/cry thing and talks really fast when concerned about something ) Ahhh..hahaha…Mom…ahh…Get Eliser outta the tub…

Me: (stare blankly deciding what to do)

Aubrey:  (panicky laugh is increasing) Mom..Get Liser out now…Hahah..she's ah gonna go down the drain…

Me: (Looks over at the tub, eyes widen) OH NO she is going down the drain (Mock putting my arms out to save her)…Liser don't go ….nooooo

Aubrey: MOM!! NOT MY LISER, I LOVE MY LISER!! I NEEEEED HER!

Dammit!  She goes straight for the heart and says something cute and kind, now I feel bad. I quickly grabbed Elise and became the hero of the story. 

The Fairy Who Couldn't Fly

This fall Aubrey will start preschool.  She is beyond excited, nearly everyday she asks if it is finally time to go to school.  When I explain that it is not quite time yet she grabs her ‘packpack’ and pretends to go anyways.   The conversations and play that ensues is inspiring. 

A few days ago I was working away in the kitchen preparing what was sure to be a gourmet meal,  when I heard soft whimpering behind me. I turned around to see Aubrey with her shoulders hunched slowly shuffling into the kitchen. She looked devastated. I noticed she had a set of thin sparkly fairy wings strapped to her back, “Aubs whats wrong Hon?” .  She looked up with big watery eyes and in the quietest voice cried out “Mom….I can’t fly…”

I held in my laughter realizing this was something she was truly sad about.  I smiled a little and asked “Love show me what you mean”. With her head still hung low she began to hop on one foot “See Mom I just can’t do it!”  Remembering that this is a child with a great imagination I jumped into action explaining I was about to sprinkle some pixie dust on her head, everyone knows pixie dust works, so I sprinkled away.

For the first time she looked up, slowly shook her head at me while saying “Mom that’s just not going to work…” . Then she proceeded to walk away from me shaking her head.

It made me think of her heading to school and how it seems with every year kids lose their sense of wonder, their sense of imagination and creativity.  Other kids begin to tell them what is and isn’t real.  All I can think of now is how do I stop the little fairy in my kitchen from disappearing.  How do I, only one voice, continue to remind her she can do and be anything?