2. Write a blog post inspired by the word: Eighteen
When I started writing this blog, Maile was three and my heart was bursting with adoration for her. She was the proud big sister of a brand new baby brother and Laina was her best little friend. Our days were filled with daycare friends, daily arts and crafts projects, and weekend adventures.
While Maile was a leader and a goof at home, she was painfully shy at family gatherings and at school. I remember thinking that I could not imagine myself ever feeling comfortable with the idea of her operating on her own in the world. Ever. I could not wrap my mind around how my innocent, anxious, darling baby could ever manage without me.
How could this child, with those bouncing pigtails and that contagious giggle, who told me she would NEVER scream in Target if a stranger was stealing her, ever pay a phone bill?
How could the elementary school girl who would rather color quietly all day than step foot in a classroom ever finish high school?
This baby of mine, so sensitive that I could not leave the house for even an hour from the minute she was born, what would heartbreak do to her? How would a backstabbing friend break her? Not only could I not imagine it…I was afraid of it.
When Maile started dating in high school I told her I was uneasy with it and I said something like, “Imagine you’ve been working on a painting that means everything to you. You have been working on this painting for years. Every stroke of color, every swirl and splatter…all of it is there because I put it there. It’s my painting. Even the mistakes and messes I made were worked over because I took the time to work through them. You are my painting, and I feel like I’m just handing my masterpiece to a boy that could destroy it. He doesn’t know the value like I do.”
I get it now though. She’s not my masterpiece. She is her masterpiece. Her life is her canvas and it always has been. Pat and I have been colors in it. We might have helped guide her through some of it, but she has always been in charge of it. Boys and friends can come and go. She will repair that damage. It will become a part of what makes her life beautiful. She will fail at some things, succeed at others and she has been quietly trying to take charge for some time now.
This child, who somehow has become the person who leads me back to our hotel from the middle of downtown Vegas because she can’t deal with my slow pace and indecisive sense of direction.
This teenager, who redesigned my bathroom as a gift to me and offers advice on home decor.
This LADY, who picks the restaurants and drives the cars and chides me for coughing too much and wants to stay out until 3am and works at a restaurant and saves her money and is turning 18 tomorrow and OH MY GOD HOW DID WE GET HERE!?
My baby is an ADULT.
I’d like to think that Pat and I have spent the past 18 years preparing her for independence, but the truth is I think she has been preparing us.
Happy 18th Birthday Maile!
Happy Fourth Birthday
Happy Fifth Birthday
Happy Sixth Birthday
Happy Seventh Birthday
Happy Eighth Birthday
Happy Ninth Birthday
Happy Tenth Birthday
Happy Eleventh Birthday
Happy Twelfth Birthday
Happy Thirteenth Birthday
Happy Fifteenth Birthday
Happy Sixteenth Birthday
Happy Seventeenth Birthday
John Holton says
Happy birthday to Maile! You and Pat should be proud of the job you did in raising her.
Jessica says
I’ve been away from blogging and reading all my favorite blogs for a while now. I think the last time I read this one regularly, Maile was about 11 or 12. I cannot believe she is turning 18; she is so grown up! Time flies so fast, and I totally get all of the fears you have for her; I have them for my son, as well. As he is patiently trying to teach me, he has to learn things for himself, I can’t do everything for him. They will do great, and we can relax a little bit knowing that we have raised them well. Happy Birthday to Maile!
Patty says
Many wishes to Maile for a wonderful birthday!
She is just so beautiful, Kat! I agree with the 18 years of you and Pat working hard to prep Maile for her future, you both have done a terrific job! She will take your guidance and love wherever she goes in whatever she does. You are very blessed!
Stay safe!