A Love Letter

We always ask kids, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

When my high school students talk to me about the pressures of answering that question, I often tell them that I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I'm pseudo-joking but more serious than they know. However, I actually know, not necessarily what I want to be, but *who* I want to be like: my girl, Grace.

Okay, to be honest, that picture isn't entirely fair...it's the first photo I took of my daughter. This is Grace now:

See, this tiny little girl is growing into everything I could ever hope to be. She's full of life, up for anything, and the bravest person I know. We took her to the beach for the first time this summer, and I was so afraid she would be afraid of the great wide open (because, you know, I am). This was her first experience with the ocean:

She went running, full-speed, across the burning sand into the crashing waves that knocked her over, spun her around...and made her laugh while yelling, "More!"

In addition to her balls-to-the-wall way of living, Grace has the kindest heart. This is one of her (badly-kept) secrets. 

When her cousin Oliver was born in May, she continually claimed she did NOT like him. She didn't realize, though, I captured her reaction the first time we offered to let her hold him.

And she's always had a deep love for animals, great and small.

She's not perfect; one might call her...lively. (The blur is indicative of her occasional Tasmanian-devil disposition.)

For years, I questioned if I ever even wanted to be a mother. And yet, at the end of the day -- every day -- Grace shows that sometimes the greatest gifts in life are the ones we don't even know we want. She is funny, and brave, and SO STRONG-WILLED, and a greater joy than I might have ever imagined. 

In my life, I've wanted to be a political analyst, a doctor, a photojournalist, a teacher (got it), and an author (working on it). I've finally realized, though, that what I most want is to be happy, and the thing that makes me happiest...is being Grace's mom.

I hope that, for my students and especially my beautiful baby girl, I can help them see the wisdom of John (not the apostle this time; the Beatle).

Live well, and be happy. ❤️