When my children were small, I often wondered what they might become.
Linda Jo, my oldest, used to watch Judge Judy and the People's Court every day. In fourth grade, for career day, she dressed like a judge. I had to make her a lace collar for her robe, just like Judge Judy's. For the next year, she held court in our home, calling us to order with a small hammer that made dents in the furniture when she was overly zealous. We often made up problems for her to solve and she tried to be impartial in her decisions. She called us "the litigants" and even gave us case numbers. What a lot of fun those days were. I wondered what she might become. Truth be told, I still wonder what she is becoming.
When I dropped clothes on her bed the other day, the books on her night stand made me laugh...and I snapped a picture. I never want to forget the little surprises she throws my way.
These are joyful little moments that remind me of how different she is from anyone else.
Condi, Newt...and underneath, a college textbook: "Writing Logically, Thinking Critically." Go figure.
She recently won First Alternate at the Miss Tehama County Scholarship Program (more about that next month...I'm a mom, you know, and it's my right to brag). I pushed her into doing this program, but after the first meeting, she needed no further encouragement. She went with the group to the Lamb Derby in Willows and had to introduce herself in front of an audience. She told me about it later, "Mom, I introduced myself, and then my mind went completely blank. The girl next to me prompted, 'I would like to invite...' and only then I remembered that I was supposed to invite them to our fair!" I felt bad for her, and asked, "So public speaking isn't for you?" She gave a determined little laugh and said, "Oh, it's for me. And I won't go blank again." She has been attending Toast Masters for the past few months, a good decision as she hopes to become a politician...
a Republican politician. She has another semester at Shasta College and then plans to get her BA in Political Science. Here she is meeting Assemblyman Jim Nielsen
a Republican politician. She has another semester at Shasta College and then plans to get her BA in Political Science. Here she is meeting Assemblyman Jim Nielsen
and our future California governor, Meg Whitman...this was an exciting moment!
The future is bright...very bright. Looks like a lot of fun, too.
Again, I find myself wondering about the girl she has been and the young woman
she is becoming. More and more these days, I wonder how I managed to hit
the "kid lottery" if there is such a thing, as I think mine are pretty amazing.
I have always shaken my head with disbelief at this one...whether she was banging a makeshift gavel into the wooden dining table and announcing my guilt over some misdeed, or graduating from high school at 16, or reading strange books.
Complete disbelief...this girl is mine? This wonderful girl is mine? Really?
