fourteen

I have been a parent for 14 years now. (crazy!) and if anyone were to ask me which years were the most significant in milestone jumps, I'd answer: a} kindergarten…all of my kids entered without knowing how to read and left 9 months later, reading. I think that's pretty significant (it's also the year that starts the entire school career, which I also think is huge.) and answer b} 13-14. which is where kira was last year. slowly, she has been changing from a child, to a preteen.. even the jump to 13 was not as huge as the jump to 14. in my opinion. she is now a little taller than me. her feet are bigger than mine. she has an opinion and she voices it frequently. she knows how to manage her time and is responsible beyond belief. i can hardly believe how much she's changed this year. it's sometimes hard to look at her as my baby, when she's becoming such a young lady. you think about that all the time as your baby girl grows up, but then she actually becomes that and you wonder how that was possible. 
In two weeks, she will graduate from middle school and enter high school in the fall. this week, she will run for freshman class president (they vote this year so that they will work on planning all summer). she is confident, happy, has got major school spirit, she's friendly and has spunk. she is a team player. she knows that the next 4 years are going to make a huge impact on her life. if you knew me in high school, and you know kira now.. you'd know that we are COMPLETELY opposite. she is the kind of girl i was not in high school. she is super social. she is not the kind of girl i would have hung out with but yes, we would have been acquaintances. it's so interesting to think of our lives like that. that my daughter will be where i was not so long ago– but with a whole other perspective.
she is the kind of girl i want to be with now. she is smart and sarcastic. she sings and dances and plays sports. she likes chick flicks and pedicures. she is strong. she likes to ride bikes. she questions us. she cares about herself and her future. she has been such an amazing gift from God. i am thankful for her presence in my life daily. i am extremely honored to witness the last 14 years of growth. i just wish i could pause these next 4 years every now and then… ( and fast forward the bits with the attitude 🙂 ) before she moves on again. i know they will go by so quickly.