Dear Maggie,
This has been a fun year, and I have loved watching you grow into the 8 year old that you are now. You are sweet and bright and strong and hopeful. You are headstrong, kind, independent and sensitive.
And you are my pancake. I am making mistakes, and I know it. As in so many things, you amaze me by taking it in and dealing with it. A few months ago, we were having morning battles. You didn’t want to get up, I didn’t want to be up, and everything turned into a battleground. More often than not, you left the house annoyed with me, and as you were walking down the driveway, I would realize just how much kinder I could have been. We talked about it one time. I said that neither of us was a morning person, and I thought that maybe we should remember that in the mornings and try to give one another a break. Starting the next day, the morning battles stopped. It floors me that you are able to get something so quickly and so completely that it changes everything.
It has been interesting watching you begin to understand that you are setting the example for your sister this year. You don’t always like it, but I can see that it has changed how you act. And you are a good example. I have seen you taking on the challenge of finding the balance between standing up for the right thing and keeping your nose out of other peoples’ business. I can see how you struggle with it, and that you are trying. I need to give you more credit for what you do with an issue that most adults have a hard time with.
You are so strong, and so fast. Because you are so happy to sit down and read for hours at a time (over 1,000 pages in April alone!), it always comes as a shock to see how happy you are when you are moving fast. Running, skating, climbing, riding your bike—it doesn’t matter. When you are moving your body, you are a happy, happy girl and the smile on your face reaches every bit of you. And you are fast and fearless with all of it, and unfailingly supportive of those you play with.
You certainly walk to the beat of your own drummer. It does not matter to you what other people say is cool or how you should act, wear or think—if you like it, it is right for you, and if you don’t, or if you think it is wrong, you aren’t going to do it, even if someone tells you you should. I hope that quality stays with you forever.
For your birthday CD this year, there was a late entry. You weren’t sure about it at first because it sounded a little different, but you listened anyway, and decided you it worked. So it went on. I’ve taken out the chorus, because while I love this age, and hope that you are always able to hold on to your innocence and sense of wonder at the world, I do not want you to be forever young. I am having far too much fun watching you grow up. I look forward to this next year, and all those that come after it.
Love,
mom
PS. Thank you for making me laugh so often this year. You are a funny girl, and I love your jokes and your humor more than you know.
May God bless and keep you always; may your wishes all come true.
May you always do for others, and let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung.
May you grow up to be righteous; may you grow up to be true.
May you always know the truth and see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous, stand upright and be strong.
May your hands always be busy; may your feet always be swift.
May you have a strong foundation when the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful and may your song always be sung.
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