To My Daughter On Her Sixth Birthday {Karina}

My dear Karina,

What a year of growth it has been for you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the endless cuddles you’ve provided me with, and the reflective questions you have helped me to ponder. With each year you grow, I grow too!

Today you are six.

That’s a whole hand plus one, according to your mathematical brain.

If you would’ve told me last year how much you’d be thriving now, I may have dismissed it. We’ve had some really tough years together, but this one was for the books.

For starters, I thought you’d struggle in school. Boy, was I wrong. You THRIVED. We kicked off your schooling with all day begindergarten to give you an extra year to practice your social skills, and I heard so much positive feedback about your intellect, your attitude, and your ability to always be a helper! You are task-oriented through and through, and school helped to create that solid structure you’ve craved since day one. I have no doubt we made the right decision giving you an extra year for growth.

In fact, I still laugh about the day the principal called me…I immediately thought he was going to say you got into a fight {What?! You are a wildcard at times!}. Instead, he told me how you had been chosen to be student of the month due to your responsible behavior. Just one more reason I need not doubt your abilities…You may be incredibly stubborn with your family, but it seems you are also a people pleaser, so thanks for that!

This summer with you has been fantastic. I’ve seen you go from a quiet child who would run inside to hermit when challenged, to a friend that looks out for others and faces challenges head-on. It has been the most positive transformation for you this year, by far. You often say you are shy…But we all know that is NOT the case, and when you have thoughts, you speak your mind, for better or worse 😉

One of my favorite qualities about you that took hold this year is your passion for reading. You had zero pressure on you to read, but you took it upon yourself to learn. I’m a low pressure parent when it comes to academics, but I found myself sitting with you to help because you absolutely love it.

You are a natural learner, and I have no doubt you are going to rock this school year! Your intelligence often seems to be a few steps ahead of me, and I am constantly on the lookout for ways to stimulate your brain and need for physical play.

Speaking of physical play, that has been HUGE for you this year. You still scoff at my ideas for dance and theatre, opting instead to try any sport we can budget for {and you’d love to try them all if time allowed}. This year, you stuck with karate and tried T-ball. You did fantastic with both, and I hope you continue to love and learn from sports in the years ahead.

Some of your favorite things to do are wrestle with daddy, ride bikes, CLIMB {anything!}, build with toys, and play outside. In many ways, your brain operates SO different than mine, but then I see how passionate you get, and how busy you like to be, and I am reminded that we are cut from the same cloth 😉

Your favorite “chill” activity is to cuddle your boy, Jack-Jack. I am so grateful for the calm he provides you with, and I smile every night I see you two cuddled up asleep. He has been an amazing addition to our family, and I appreciate your help with him.

Kar-Bar, I hope you know how much I love you. I hope you know that even though sometimes I yell as you challenge me daily, I wouldn’t have it any other way because it shows me how fierce you are, and that is a quality that cannot be taught. Keep that fire alive by being the incredibly passionate child you are, and I have no doubt you will go far in this life.

I love you to the moon and back, times infinity.

Kisses,

Mom