Madison

There are times with each child when it feels like there is more negative than positive.  There are time when you feel like you are failing to connect and parent on the level your child requires.  I feel like that with Madison sometimes.  We are so different.  She is sensitive and compassionate.  I, am neither of those things.  I often feel like I am too rushed, too harsh, too abrupt when parenting her.  I am afraid at times that I am crushing the beautiful personality that God has given her.  She is an incredible kid.  Lately I am seeing her unique and amazing personality come out even more.

She is kind and loving.  I've never heard her speak a cruel word to anyone.  She is obedient and is willing to stand up for what is right.  I have often worried that as she gets older would be a follower and let friends with stronger personalities sway her beliefs and convictions.  But a recent event made me see how strong she really is.  Last week Madison and a friend of hers were getting ready for ballet.  The girls have been told by her friends mom that they aren't allowed to change in the same bathroom stall.  I have never told Madison that she couldn't change in the same stall.  After being in the bathroom for a long time Madison walked out alone.  She came over to me and said, "It didn't go so well in there" and then she burst in to tears and attempted to tell me what had happened.  It turns out her friend had tried to persuade Madison to change in the same stall as her.  She said her mom had forgotten or that she wouldn't care anymore.  When Madison resisted, her friend started telling her that she wouldn't be her friend anymore, wouldn't talk to her, wouldn't sit by her, wouldn't play with her.  Madison then reminded her friend that she didn't really mean those things, that she was just saying it because she was upset.  I was beyond proud when I heard how Madison handled herself.  I was so thankful that she was able to remain obedient to her friends Mom's rule, a rule I had never even set in place for her.  I was proud of her for standing strong even with no adults around.  I was proud of her for reminding her friend that she didn't really mean those things.  I love her little friend, I don't record this event to make Madison look better than her friend, Madison has her moments too. I just wanted to share one of those moments as a parent that makes you proud and thankful and feel so incredibly blessed for the person God has made your child to be.  I can see Madison growing and maturing and it such a rewarding thing to watch take place.

Another recent proud moment with Madison was her placing first in her class for her school spelling be.  We spend some time studying almost every day.  Usually she was happy to study, sometimes she was a little reluctant.  We kept at it as I felt like it would be a really good learning experience for her.   She is very nervous now about going on to the larger spelling be for all of the Christian schools in the area.  I am proud of her for pursuing the larger spelling bee even though it is outside of her comfort zone.  I hope that no matter what the outcome of the bee that she will come out stronger, feeling proud of herself and with a knowledge that hard work can be rewarding. 

I am so thankful for my firstborn girl.  I am so thankful that God made her who she is.  She is the perfect bundle of sensitive, compassionate, strong, intelligent, musical, and so much more.  I am so excited to get to continue to watch her to develop and mature over the next years of her life.