Happy Thirteenth Birthday, Thing 2

Dear Thing 2,

Wow!  Thirteen years.  I can’t imagine that you’ve been around that long.

You’re old.

Well, maybe not old.  But a TEENAGER.

How did this happen?

It seemed like just yesterday I was bringing you home from the hospital.

Oh good gracious… you weren’t the most beautiful baby.  It didn’t make me not love you any more.  But it took you a little while to grow into your looks.

Not long.

But a little while.

And I can say that.  I’m your Mom.

I have watched you grow into a beautiful young woman.  I am in awe of who you are, admire your confidence, and wish I could face much of what you do.

I worry about you more than any of the others.  Perhaps it’s because I see me in you and don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.

You’re bold.

You’re brassy.

You’re confident with who you are.

You’ve provided me with so many laughs…. and so many tears…and a few gray hairs.

And you’re absolutely gorgeous.

I pray for you daily, praying that you will love the Lord with your whole heart and choose to follow Him as you continue to spread your wings.  I pray that you’ll listen to some of the trials I faced and realize that you don’t have to walk that path and I pray that I am a positive role model in your life. (Although, I know that I falter more times than I would like to admit.)

You have the world in the palm of your hands and have so much potential.

Have a wonderful birthday and welcome to the teen years.  I know they’ll be “interesting” for both of us.  Let’s work together to make the most of them.

Love you less than God.

Mom