"I've always liked the time before dawn because there's no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am." - story people
This little Tess of mine is just about to enter the world of elementary school where she will be surrounded by her peers and faced with some tough choices. As I've watched her grow up and interact with others I've seen this need of hers to be accepted (I know we all do one way or another) and have watched her change her mind based on what someone else is doing or trying to be like them. If I could give her anything it would be to always be true to herself. I know she is young and knowing who you are takes time and experience, but I would hate to see her fall into the trap that she needs to be like everybody else or there is only one way to be. I just want her to be who she is and never doubt where she came from.
It's something I wish I could just hand to her, the confidence to be who she is, but know it will be something she will have to find on her own and want. With the world's voice shouting in your ear it can be difficult to remember to just be who you are, but I know if you want it, you can get it. I still need to remind myself the same things. Perhaps our unfavorable predispositions we come here with are the things that take us a lifetime to conquer, but are worth all the fight. Indeed I think it's that fight that makes us who we are. Life really is a cycle.
So Tess keep being the fun, silly, yet sensitive little girl we have always loved...and never ever stop laughing.
8 comments:
this was beautiful, amy. perfect thoughts that I imagine most mothers share deeply with you. good luck this year to tess!
I wish I could give that gift to my children as well. And the young women I work with. And some days, even myself when I need a little reminder!
Such good thoughts. My Austin is the same way. I have seen him wait for Landon to choose things first so he can copy him and be the same. I worry about this same thing with him, but like you said, we can't change some traits that are inherent, can we? Hopefully we can try to guide and build that confidence so that when the important choices come (not just what flavor of popsicle) they will choose what they know to be right.
Ok, apparently Jared set Austin up with a Google ID b/c as far as I know, he doesn't have one! Sorry about that :-D
Those are the thinks that almost make me loose my breath when I think about my girls getting bigger. When I think about the trials I have faced, some of the biggest ones have been the ones that I've imposed on myself because of the way I talk to myself or the way I think about me and as a result, hav elet people treat me. I agree, if we could just hand this to them, it would be so easy, but if they fight for it, they will treasure that confidence and never let anyone take it away.
Amy, I've felt those exact same thoughts, you expressed them beautifully. Give your sister a hug for me, I missed her before she even made it to Utah.
so sweet. and scary. i wouldn't want to relieve much of those years because it's such a learning process.
tess is adoarble and i'm certain she will do great.
i love brian andreas too! my favorite of his is:
"Are you a princess? I said & she said I'm much more than a princess, but you don't have a name for it yet here on earth."
Amy--your photography is always so beautiful. You've got to do one of my challenges one of these days. :)
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