Lainie turned 12 on Wednesday and I can say with confidence that my three children have proven that mothers not only have more than enough love for all their children; their love grows every day, every minute, every hour for each of them. Watching my soon-to-be teen grow as a person and a sister has been a driving force in that.
This week, Lainie was inducted into the National Honor Society. Two years ago I would never have dreamed that day would come. I was proud of the fact that Lainie was just fine where she was at; she was neither an accelerated student, nor a delayed learner. She was thriving right where God planted her - in the middle. This year she proved me wrong; she's not in the middle at all. She's at the top, and still climbing.
I know now what my parents always talked about when they said they were "busting buttons". I do that everyday with all my children, but with my oldest, it's different. Something about her just connects with me. It's probably due in part to the fact that she can communicate with me where the other two are still learning how to communicate at all. It probably also lies in the fact that my oldest daughter is just like me. Not in the way that makes you cringe and want to change her, in the way that you just want to say, "Yeah, she's like me and I couldn't ask for more."
Isn't that what every parent wishes for?
