"You're a good Mommy"

During one of Ella's midnight trips to the potty last week she looked into my eyes and glazily told me, "You're a good Mommy." Things like this just make everything worth it to me.

Yesterday on our way to church she was looking at a princess coloring book and was asking me (driving) "Guess what princess this is mom?" I of course couldn't really look while driving, so I'd shout out a random princess knowing I had a 1 out of 6 chance of getting it right. The cute thing was that when I'd get one correct she'd say stuff like, "Way to go mom!" "You're right mom!" "That's right! You're so smart mommy!" When I'd get one wrong, she'd say incouraging things like, "try again mom, you can do it!" "guess again, it starts with 'Cinders'" or she'd start singing the princesses theme song... -It melted my heart to hear her say the same things back to me that I say to her when I have her guess or repeat answers back to me. Children really learn what you teach and I always hope I am a positive influence for good in your life Ella. We try our best to raise you right, and really want the best for you.

I was watching a movie with my friend Julie last week where this dad was raising 3 girls (two teenagers) all by himself and how they didn't see eye to eye on anything and thought their dad didn't know anything, and couldn't relate to them. It just made me not want you to grow up. Well, not really; I love seeing you experience new things and to watch you grow, but I just remember being 15 and thinking that my mom didn't know what is was like to be my age. Perspective is such a weird entity... The older I get the more I realize how right my mom was about everything, and how I wish I could tell you exactly how to live your life and how to be happy. I guess that's not the way it works though. We are all meant to experience life for ourselves and make our own mistakes. But please remember sweet daughter that there are 2 ways to learn: 1) you can learn from other people's mistakes, or you can 2) learn the hard way, -from your own experiences. I hope you take all the knowledge you can from others around you and realize that I do in fact remember what it was like to be a teenager, to be so infactuated with boys, and think that I had all the answers. I hope we can always be on the same team and that you will always be able to come to me with any question, no matter how embarassing it may be. I will always love and support you and be on your side and my hope is that through this you will be able through our guidance, to make your own right decisions. I love you little girl, and am so proud of all you are and your potential to be. Maybe reading this from me, written as a hip young mom of 28 will make you realize that I remember being your age and can relate to you and understand all the pressures and trials teenagers face and can continue to be your friend and confidant. We are always here for you. Love, Mom