Yesterday, my smart niece hit twelve. And this morning after her 12th birthday party last night, I caught a glimpse of my niece that left me gripping the kitchen counter and shaking my head.
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| {A magical night watching a movie under the stars} |
{And paint on tattoos with friends}
Suddenly I saw her: a burst of colorful style bounding into the kitchen—the scent of teenage grooming quickly overpowering the smell of blueberry pancakes her mom and I were making. I saw her nails, cut short and square with vibrant polish, grabbing a berry. She was going out on the patio with her two girlfriends to sit and chat. And there she went. With barely a wave, the door shut, and I was left in silence wondering who was that beautiful girl; she seemed so unfamiliar.
I took my yogurt outside to eat on the patio and listened to her friends talk about "asking boys out". And when I finally found my breath after that, I felt a sudden urgency to soak up my sons in the present. And that’s when it became clear—what I wanted to do with the time that I am given … before I look up from the kitchen counter and my ten-year-old son is sixteen.
I want to watch them laugh until tears come to their eyes before I am not both their favorite audience.
I want to look into their sweet eyes and ask, “What are you thinking about?” before I am no longer invited to hear their thoughts, worries, and fears.
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Before she asks my opinion about which Henna tattoo to put on...or not.
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| {My sister Sheri and her magazine worthy spread of sushi and "magic beans" (Edamame)} |
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| {Hanging Chinese lanterns} |
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| {My sweet little bunnies!} |
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| {Connor has two pet bunnies, Snowball} |
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| {And Snowflake. I'm not sure how he tells them apart!} |
