Dear Scarlet
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Showing posts tagged parenting
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Dear Scarlet,
Your Uncle Nick sent you this new tent in the mail. You and Harvey have been having all kinds of fun with it. You even slept in it one night and hung out and ate lunch in it the whole next day. Oh and you are wearing a giant Spiderman Tshirt in these photos because it’s your cousin Jaymison’s and you miss him. -
Dear Scarlet,
This sums up your week. Dress up skirt with PJ top, Harvey, your Give A Mouse A Cookie kick, fruit, Wonder Pets marathons because it’s too cold to do anything. -
Dear Scarlet,
I remember when we found out that we were stationed in Oklahoma City. I can’t remember what exactly I said, but I know that my face looked a lot like this: -______- When your dad joined the Air Force we had all these dreams of California or Germany. Oklahoma didn’t really sound like the crazy adventure we thought we’d signed up for. I didn’t know about the people. I didn’t know we’d find such supportive and amazing friends. I didn’t know about all the new foods you’d try or all the things we’d be invited to try and do. Whether it’s celebrating Record Store Day, medieval fairs, music festivals, lake trips, farmer’s markets, or just going to little shops in the plaza or the paseo. You are seeing and experiencing so much more here than you would be if we would have had to stick around Keokuk forever. I’m really grateful for that. I’m so happy that you have the people in your life that you’ve met here. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in your case everybody is truly pulling their weight. We’re lucky, kid. I know that things with your dad and I didn’t exactly go according to plan, but this plan isn’t so bad at all. It’s not what we thought, but you have a ton of quality people in your life. I’m happy that you’ve gotten the chance to know them all. I want you to remember that when things don’t go the way you expected, or even wanted them to go. Sometimes Plan B is better than Plan A ever could have been. And that’s okay too. Carry on and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get your way or things don’t go as planned. Sometimes it’s for the best after all. -
Dear Scarlet,
It’s well over 100 degrees today. We had to figure out ways to stay occupied indoors. After art projects and playing doctor we decided to give each other makeovers. You look a little too “Toddlers and Tiaras” for my taste, but we still had fun. You told me today that my hair was “even more glowing yellow” than usual. -
Dear Scarlet,
We recently moved to a new house that is in a better school district than where we were living, you start preschool this week! Anyway, the new house has hardwood floors and a fenced in backyard with a hammock and porch swing. You have your very own loft bedroom which you have decided on the theme “Treehouse Science Museum,” you even have a pulley system with a bucket that our roommate Ashley built you as a toy elevator since you need both hands to climb up the ladder. You’re already growing so close to our roommates Bobby and Ashley, and our neighbor Brooke/Bunny. Tonight we put batteries in your turtle that glows stars on the ceiling and stargazed in your loft treehouse room while you ran around like a crazy person. You are surrounded by the most caring people, I couldn’t be happier about it. Today we also had orientation for your school and you got to meet your teacher and see your classroom. I teared up walking in and signed up for every possible parent volunteer opportunity. I can’t imagine what it will be like to leave you there alone later this week, even if it’s just mornings right now. I got a new job working at the tea cafe and we are settling into a new routine. Things are really great right now, even if money is kind of tight until I start getting regular paychecks and we pay all the deposits off. If all you need is love, then we are more than set. Way way more than you know, baby boo. 2012 has been the roughest. Hear this loud and clear, if you ever feel like giving up, keep going. Keep going even if it seems fruitless and irrelevant. Because someday, eventually, something’s gotta give. And it will. It really will. I’m eternally grateful to you for being my ultimate motivator, because I know I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.
-Mom -
Dear Scarlet,
Today was cold and boring, so we did an impromptu crazy-haired photoshoot in my room. There was this one picture in particular where you were pulling on your eyelids that I just fell in love with. It’s so typical Scarfish, I can’t get enough of it. It got me to thinking about how so many of my very favorite photos of you from over the years are of you just sitting against a wall, the main focus being your expressions and personality. You are truly one of a kind, kiddo. I hope that contagious light in your face never fades. - Mom -
Dear Scarlet,
Today we went to the Disney Store and you got some Jessie pajamas. They reminded me of a pair you had back in the summer of 2010 when you were just two and a half. We took some photos tonight before bed. I guess I didn’t realize how much you’d grown since then. Because although you look and act a lot differently, you’ve always had that same spirit. I stare at and document you face enough that you’d think this side by side wouldn’t baffle me so much. I guess it’s one of those things like trying to watch the sky get darker, even when you think you are paying close attention, all of a sudden it’s night and you’re not sure how. A lot of things have changed since those first photos were taken, almost everything actually, but you are my constant. That spirit. Forever. I love you. -
Dear Scarlet,
About a month ago you asked if you could have a “circle mohawk” again. I told you to think about it because you’ve been growing your hair out for so long and I didn’t want you to regret it. On Sunday night I told you I had a hair appointment with Allison the next day. You asked if you could get your hair cut like that again, but you were laying down for bed and not supposed to be talking so I ignored you. The next day you asked twice, so I finally said I didn’t care and that you look beautiful whatever you decide. The last time your hair was like this you weren’t in school yet, I was so nervous about kids being cruel. I walked you to school on Tuesday morning and stayed awhile to make sure everything was going to go smoothly, which it did. When I picked you up you said, “Olivia liked my hair. She said she didn’t want her hair like this, but she liked mine like this. And we’re still friends. That’ just like how I don’t want to have purple hair like Allison, but I love Allison’s purple hair. You don’t have to have all the same stuff as your friends.” Wise beyond your years, baby child. I’m so proud of you and how you have the courage to be exactly who you want to be, despite any other outside influences. While we’re on the topic of gender, when I was at parent teacher conferences a few months ago a mom of this little boy approached me. She told me how he wanted to paint his nails and go to school. She let him. When he came home he said, “Scarlet loved my nails, Mom!” I’ve never been so proud. -
