To Miss Independent- my favorite 2-year-old

Dear Lucy,
  Today you brought your chair all the way in from the family room so you could climb on my bed to watch TV all by yourself.  It's just one of the ways you are trying so hard to show your independence.  Honestly, this phase is driving me crazy!! you are taking forever to do everything, because you want to do everything by yourself!  BUT since you are my 5th child, I have learned to let you.  I am happy to know that it is important for you to be able to do things by yourself.  AND bonus: it teaches your mama more about patience.  And, believe me, that is something that she needs to learn about.  It's one of those lessons that just hasn't sunk in yet.

Luckily, I'm learning that the pride you feel at accomplishing a task alone is WAY more important than my schedule.  And i'm learning to adjust my time and pick my battles.  I mean there are just some things that you can't do alone yet- like when you wanted to cut your own roast last night.  But you will get there.  And thankfully, there is always hair- dye for all the grays you are giving me! 

I mean, really, how is being on time worth more than that face?!  I love you, Sparkle!

Love,

Mom

Dear future me,
  Today is the day that you started the blog you had been thinking about forever!  A place to just write- because you need to write.  A place to share your memories, to have a record of what you learned and how you felt when you learned it.  You know, just in case you get old someday and forget things.  As you are looking back, I hope that you remember: Your life has been amazing!  You have been blessed to find enormous joy in the simple things.  Your husband and children are what bring you the most happiness.  Sometimes you feel wise- sometimes you feel naive.  You don't mind laughing at yourself and really try to learn from your mistakes.  And when you repeat your mistakes, you pick yourself up, have a little chuckle and try again.  You love to make people happy!  But you are shy and don't like to put yourself out there, so you do most things behind the scenes.  The spotlight is not a place you are comfortable.  As you started this blog, you hoped to be honest and real in your writing.  You hope to look back years later and see growth, and if you are lucky- wisdom.  Because really thats what you have hoped for: to be wise!