The World Needs More Lilas

Dear Lila,

Last night, I was crazed as usual trying to finish a dozen different things on my to-do list. One of the things I had to do was put fresh linens on MuiMui's bed. I had already put on clean sheets (and you and MuiMui were sitting on them) but stopped mid-task to get a load of laundry out of the dryer. When I got back to MuiMui's room, you had put the pillowcase back on the Boppy pillow for me. As a busy mom, I can't tell you how much that meant to me, that you not only helped me but that you knew what I needed help with and helped without me even having to ask you to do it.

And then you impressed me further when you stayed up late to study long division. I'd taught you how to do it last year but it's obviously been awhile and you knew your teacher was going to be reviewing it at school today, so you asked me to give you a little refresher so you'd be better prepared for the lesson today. Come on! You are the best kid! I was actually texting my friends this week and telling them what a good sous chef you had been on Thanksgiving (you arranged the bread cubes on the baking sheets to be baked for the stuffing, helped cook the sausage and veggie mix for the stuffing, mixed the ingredients for the corn pudding and peeled three containers of Brussels sprouts) and my friend said she wished she had a Lila in her family. I responded that if all my kids were like you, we would have had ten more!

Love,

Mom

Schoolwork Slipup

Dear Lila,

You have always been a very conscientious student who makes sure to get her homework and assignments done, so I have never had to nag you about doing your schoolwork. Even when there wasn't much school during the first year of the pandemic and I assigned you kids 10 pages of workbook pages every day, you always made sure to finish your "Mama homework." So of course when you had summer homework this year, you finished it in July. Or so you thought. When you were gathering your assignments today to turn in tomorrow (it's already the first day of school tomorrow!), you realized that two pieces of paper had been stuck together and you had missed a whole page of assignments that you were supposed to do. And you got so upset. Like, came into my room sobbing and talking incomprehensibly upset. All I could discern at first was that you were saying something about your summer homework and I initially thought MuiMui had done something to it, like scribbled on it or cut it up with scissors. When you calmed down and told me you still had two more book reports to do, I said it was only noon and you had plenty of time to do them before tomorrow. And you hunkered down at your desk and got them done. I am so sorry you were so stressed but I am proud of how seriously you take your schoolwork. Thank you for always working so hard! 

Love,

Mom

My Awesome Girl

Dear Lila,

Your friend Ally lives across the street from us and you both went to the same summer camp this year, so you took the bus together every day. The stop was closer to her house so in the mornings, I would say bye to you from our porch and let you walk across the street by yourself to go to Ally's house and meet up with her before going to the bus stop with her and her mom. Ally's house is close enough that I can see the front door from our porch but it was still the first time I let you go somewhere kind of on your own. And I could tell you felt very grownup crossing the street by yourself!

You are growing up so fast but you have always been mature. You'd think I'd be used to it by now but I still marvel at how considerate and mindful you are for a kid. When we went to Kalahari last weekend, you were soooo good with watching MuiMui in the pools and on the waterslides when I asked you to. You never took your eyes off of her, even though I know you would have preferred to run off on your own and play. When the two of you went down one waterslide together, you had one arm around MuiMui and when you slid into the pool at the bottom, your head actually went under the water but you made sure to hold your sister up above the water. For you to have the wherewithal to hold your sister up even while you slipped under--I was so impressed!

At Kalahari, we also went to the arcade (omg, so many noises! so many flashing lights!) and you impressed me again when we took you kids to the prize store and let you decide how to spend the tickets you had won. You let DiDi spend more tickets so that he could get half a dozen army men figurines while you only kept enough tickets for yourself to buy just one unicorn figurine.

Then yesterday, I took you, DiDi and MuiMui out to dinner. At the end, the waiter brought out three complimentary chocolate chip cookies for you kids. DiDi and MuiMui eagerly grabbed their cookies while you, my sweet girl, picked up your cookie and immediately offered it to me. In fact, if there is a last piece of cake or some other treat, you always ask Daddy and me if we want some before you eat it. You have such a big heart and I am in such awe of you! I am truly blessed to have an amazing daughter like you. I love you so much!

Love,

Mom

Hair It Is

Dear Lila,

You have gorgeous, silky, jet-black hair that belongs in a shampoo commercial. I love how soft it feels and apparently you do, too. The other day, we were on a walk and I noticed you walking strangely, with your torso kind of bobbing from side to side as you walked forward. I asked you why you were walking like that and you said you like the way it feels when your ponytail swishes along your back. Haha!

Love,

Mom

Bigfoot

Dear Lila,

Your summer shoes from last year don't fit anymore, so I measured your foot to see what size you are now and your feet are the same size as mine. You are a size 7 now?! Waaaah?! How is it that I can now share my shoes with my 9-year-old??? You are getting too big too fast!

Love,

Mom

P.S. And to answer your question, no, you may not wear my high heels to school!

Eyeing It

Dear Lila,

Last night, I asked you to keep an eye on Mackenzie. Without missing a beat, you asked me, "Okay, but what do I do with my other eye?" Hahahaha! Lila's got jokes!

Love,

Mom

A Mug for Mom

Dear Lila,

I was putting laundry away in your room this morning when I noticed a drawing you made on top of your dresser. It was of a coffee mug and the front of the mug said, "I'm the best mom. (My kids say so.)" It was so sweet and made me smile. I am so so grateful for you. Thank you for loving me the way you do!

Love,

Mom