Just like me...
My firstborn is just like me.
She's clever, imaginative, more than a little bit 'spacey', very friendly, likes painting and other messy pursuits, has a hard time with finishing something before moving on to the next thing, and so on. To observe her, is to see me, 32 years ago. And at times, I find it exasperating. If I looked in the mirror, I'd see the exact same expression on my face that my mom used to have. I've heard myself saying exactly the same things to C that I remember hearing as a child. All through school, a recurring theme to my report cards was "has trouble focusing in class", and "does not finish work on time". I was always in my own private universe, and it was like no one knew how to get there. She is much the same. Occasionally, I get glimpses into her world, but most of the time, it's a place I neither understand, nor could hope to inhabit.
My wish as a parent is that I learn to appreciate her for who she is, spaced outedness and all. That I learn to encourage her personality, and not suppress it.
That she flourishes in her imagination, instead of fighting it. I want her to dream big dreams, travel to distant lands, and live a big life. I want her to believe she can be absolutely anything she wants to be. I want her to look at impossible situations and see challenges to be overcome.
Surely, I want her to learn to function in the world, with its rules and customs. But I want her to do it HER way, not mine. Make your own mistakes, my sweet girl - I've already made mine, and learned from most of them. You have your own lessons to learn, and I will be here for you as you do.
And the next time we're trying to do something, and you get that faraway look in your eyes, I will wonder where it is you are going to in your mind. And maybe, just maybe, you'll take me along with you.
Cheers,
Sarah
She's clever, imaginative, more than a little bit 'spacey', very friendly, likes painting and other messy pursuits, has a hard time with finishing something before moving on to the next thing, and so on. To observe her, is to see me, 32 years ago. And at times, I find it exasperating. If I looked in the mirror, I'd see the exact same expression on my face that my mom used to have. I've heard myself saying exactly the same things to C that I remember hearing as a child. All through school, a recurring theme to my report cards was "has trouble focusing in class", and "does not finish work on time". I was always in my own private universe, and it was like no one knew how to get there. She is much the same. Occasionally, I get glimpses into her world, but most of the time, it's a place I neither understand, nor could hope to inhabit.
My wish as a parent is that I learn to appreciate her for who she is, spaced outedness and all. That I learn to encourage her personality, and not suppress it.
That she flourishes in her imagination, instead of fighting it. I want her to dream big dreams, travel to distant lands, and live a big life. I want her to believe she can be absolutely anything she wants to be. I want her to look at impossible situations and see challenges to be overcome.
Surely, I want her to learn to function in the world, with its rules and customs. But I want her to do it HER way, not mine. Make your own mistakes, my sweet girl - I've already made mine, and learned from most of them. You have your own lessons to learn, and I will be here for you as you do.
And the next time we're trying to do something, and you get that faraway look in your eyes, I will wonder where it is you are going to in your mind. And maybe, just maybe, you'll take me along with you.
Cheers,
Sarah
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