My firstborn is eleven today.
Aidan is at the age where she wants to carry a purse to the mall, but inside is a soft stuffed bunny finger puppet along with her money and some Chapstick.
I hope she carries the bunny for a few more years. I know that won’t happen. One day she’ll take it out of her purse with a slight eye-roll and nudge it under her bed.
She is caught between the dazzling allure of the teen ages and the security of childhood. I see it every day as she delights one moment in playing with her little horses but in the next she’s slamming her bedroom door in a fit of emotions that are still too big for her to wrangle.
I am sentimental about the past and slightly fearful about the coming years with our first teenager. I’m caught, too.
Here at eleven, my daughter and I are aligned in an orbit. I’m bigger, but she’s moving faster and faster. Soon, I’ll watch her launch ahead and away, never taking my eyes off her path.
Happy Birthday, Aidan!!
Robin’s last blog post..grand fun
Wishing her a happy, happy birthday!
Suzanne Temple’s last blog post..Where Garbage Belongs
I love this post. Happy birthday to your girl!
Rachel’s last blog post..Freedom’s Price
Happy Birthday, Aidan!
May you have peace and joy as you watch her grow and mature even more, Gretchen!
Heidi’s last blog post..Valuing Independence Today – The 4th of July Post that Wasn’t
Aww, I can hear the sigh in your post.
Happy Birthday, Aidan!
Jamie’s last blog post..Facebook? Really?
Oh that’s just beautiful, Gretchen. Happy birthday to Aidan!
Jenni’s last blog post..Over and Out
I look at my 11yo daughter with a certain gratitude now that her older sister (my eldest) is 14. Oh, things get so complicated. Now I know to enjoy the simple, silly times before they hit those teens years. 🙂
Stacey @ Happy Are We’s last blog post..Is He a Infler? Or a Toddlant?
Happy birthday to your girl!
Your post sums my feelings up these days. My oldest is 20, the next one 17, and both are poised to leave our home in February. I don’t think I am as ready as they are!
randi’s last blog post..attention: homeschoolers and people interested in homeschooling
Oh wow- eleven! Happy Birthday, Aidan!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last blog post..We Can Still Be Friends?
I might have to bookmark this post to read when my daughter turns 11. (Which won’t be for 4 years, but still.) It’s just a beautiful portrait of a woman-in-the-wings.
Happy birthday to Aidan! And to you, Gretchen. Moms should get a special hug from their friends on their children’s birthdays. There’s so much to celebrate.
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How perfectly you just summed up this “tween” time. I see it to and I’m where you are, doing what you’re doing.
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My tween has a beloved bunny, too. Here’s hoping both yours and mine will be bunny lovers to the end and do BP proud.
Starr’s last blog post..My Book Knife
Happy Birthday to your dd!
shel@lifewithseven’s last blog post..Horses
What a beautiful post. It amazes me that one day my 4 year old will be 11. Thanks for the insight. And Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!
I hope it was everything her eleven year old heart desired.
Rebecca’s last blog post..Many Hands
waahhhhhhhh!!!!!!
Rach’s last blog post..sunday musings
Happy Birthday to Aidan!
She and Ilsa are the same age now, and you’ve perfectly summed up the joys and complications of that time of life.
edj’s last blog post..A Day Late and a Dollar Short
It’s so hard at that age, I think they get so confused, wanting to be big like a teenager but wanting to be a child at the same time.
I hope Aidan had a lovely birthday!
Ann’s last blog post..Heaven
Happy Birthday Aidan!
I love how you summed up being on the cusp of teenagehood (totally my own word) and still a little girl.
Kristin’s last blog post..Sinking In
I think about my kids moving faster and away every day, and they are only 2 and 4.
Happy Birthday!
ter’s last blog post..A Family Photo
Happy belated birthday, Aiden! My 9YO DD loves horses, too! 🙂
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Happy birthday to you 11 year old. I hope she stays innocent and bunny-loving for a few more years
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I love this.
Happy belated birthday to a lovely young lady.
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