Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Why This Girl Amazes Me

When I was a teenager I was obsessed with being “the best” --and simultaneously gripped with a fear of failure. I wouldn’t play sports...whether it was a high school team or just a game of tennis with my friends...because I couldn’t stand that I wasn’t good enough. My loss.

This girl? has no problem signing up for the baseball team, the volleyball team, the golf team, the tennis team...and doesn’t mind at all if she spends most of the game on the sidelines, cheering on her teammates. She plays for the fun and the friendship. And wins.

Raising children doesn’t come easy for me. I always want to be some amalgamation of Olivia Walton, Caroline Ingalls and Maria von Trapp. (See “the best” above.) :) But when it comes to crowd control I often turn into the Bossy Big Sister, and sometimes even the Wicked Stepmother. I am not fond of this side of myself.

This girl? is a natural nurturer. She has a rare knack for entertaining children, with just the right balance of firmness and fun. I can already see the amazing mother she'll be someday.

I artfully dodge all cameras...as a public service. I have a penchant for ruining photos. My husband is in awe of the sheer odds that we could take x number of photos...and my eyes would be closed/and or my face distorted in every. single. one.

This girl? loves the camera. In fact, knowing we didn’t have a lot of spare cash for gifts this year, for her birthday she asked my hubby to do a photo shoot with her and her friends. And look how it turned out!

On my sixteenth birthday my mom made me a special dinner at home, let me choose the menu, and let me invite one friend to join us.

This girl? had the party of the century! Her friends wanted to throw her a big dance party / surprise party. We told them 100 was too many people. They responded, "Your daughter is friends with EVERYBODY, and we don't want to leave anyone out." (Can't argue with that.) We told them we basically had no budget. One friend offered her vacant garage (which is bigger than our whole house) and flew up for the big day. Her dad hired a sound designer and a lighting specialist to deck it out for the party. Another friend, whose dad owns Magleby’s Restaurant, made their famous chocolate cake (among the best I’ve ever eaten). The girls chose playlists and handled the guest lists. All I had to do was coordinate, communicate, and go to Costco and buy all the food. About 100 people came to wish my little girl happy birthday!

What more could any mother want than to have her own daughter "best" her in nearly every way?
________________________

p.s. If you stop in on Scribbit right now, there's a review of my book and a giveaway, here.
p.p.s. There's also a wonderful review you may have missed here, by Mommy J.

21 comments:

LisAway said...

She is beautiful! She both looks and sounds more mature than 16. What a lovely birthday post. And each of the things you mention about yourself in the light of a weakness shows something about your strengths, too. Love that.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday to a beautiful girl! And a lot of love to her wonderful parents.

Dedee said...

Happy Birthday to that beautiful girl! If I had her number, I'd totally text her. Tell her happy birthday from me!

She is beautiful, and funny, and all of those other awesome things!

Barbaloot said...

What a beautiful girl! She looks happy and confident---what more could you want?

Kristina P. said...

She sounds beautiful, inside and out.

And those Magleby's must know a lot of people, because I swear I know about 4 people who know the owners.

Shari said...

She's beautiful. I love that my daughters best me too. I thought I let you know, but I posted a review of your book, but it's like the third post down now. I can repost it, though.

Luisa Perkins said...

Happy Birthday! She is so very lovely--almost as lovely as her mother. I'm so amazed by the party!

Jessica Stock said...

I am not surprised at all that your daughter is so sweet and beautiful and loved by so many-just like her mother! Love to you both!

Melanie Jacobson said...

Oh, man! She's gorgeous. And awesome!

Happy Mom said...

I, too, have a daughter, whose example I try to follow. She's beautiful!!

(I got the books!! Thanks!! I read it with my children and just couldn't help crying. It's beautiful!)

Kazzy said...

She is a keeper, for sure! And she learned alongside her wonderful mommy.

By the way, let's see more photos of you, please. Your smile lights up a room!

Fun to see you this weekend, even just for a few minutes.

Heather of the EO said...

wow. She's GORGEOUS. And she truly shines bright, as cheesy as that may sound. I can see her goodness beaming out.

Happy Birthday to your sweet girl, and friend, please believe this goodness has something to do with you...because it surely does.

Unknown said...

This is priceless.

Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter.

(and I've posted re your book. Oh , Jana. I was literally in tears turning the pages. Thank you. )

Stephanie said...

What a lovely girl. Nice work, momma. :)

Pitterle Postings said...

She is the reason you learned the lessons that you did. Never doubt that you had something to do with teaching her what she needed to know in order to be a wonderful friend.

breckster said...

have we been gone that long?! She's so grown up. And, while I'll be the first to say, "they came that way" I bet a lot of her fabuosity was encouraged and inspired by her wonderful mother.

Anonymous said...

She is as beautiful and talented and popular as her mother is kind and gracious and lovely. What a gorgeous post. What a beautiful family.

Happiest of Birthdays to her and to you!

Rachel said...

She's amazing. I'm still not sure how she got my little ones to both clean the house and go to bed early when they were having one of those days.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oh honey, my heart is just overflowing here. Wow. I love how you celebrate who she is and becoming, instead of envying her (which I guiltily admit I probably would...err...maybe do, as at her age I was none of those things).

If we could gather everyone who loves you together in one place though? No way that garage would be big enough.

Heidi said...

Goodness, that is one gorgeous gal! She looks an awful lot like her mom!

Sandy M. said...

(I don't know how I missed this before now.)
It's a wonderful post Jana, about a wonderful girl. You must be so proud. And grateful :)
Your daughter is beautiful.

xo