Simplifying… me

First…Congratulations to Tristan…winner of the Summer Reading Give-Away!

Thank you to everyone who participated and shared your favorite must-reads.  I’m adding them to my list for sure!

*Sigh*

Let’s just put it this way, when the day starts out with, “Mommy!  The tooth fairy forgot to put money under Sydney’s pillow last night!” you know you are kicking the day off in a deficit.  Especially when the previous day was filled with super human moments of error.  Yesterday was Sydney’s birthday, and things did not go as planned.  Here’s a little rundown on the past 24 hours…

• I promised Sydney a scrumptious dinner and birthday cake as she danced her way to the car heading to school yesterday morning.  Two minutes later  Joel reminded me he had a wedding rehearsal in the evening.  He wouldn’t be home.  (I knew this.  It’s been in my day planner for weeks.  It totally slipped my mind.  Not a great moment in mommy history, knowing that when Sydney got home from school I would have to break the news to her that we were going to postpone her birthday dinner.)
• When Sydney received the news of my broken promise she proceeded to fall apart as though the world was coming to an end.  I took a deep breath and let her cry it out.  After an hour of listening to a very wounded child (she tends to live her life in a perpetual state of drama), I tried to console her.  Even though she had lost a tooth at school and got to wear a paper crown all day, the very fact that I broke my promise was enough to flush her whole day down the toilet.
• Since Joel was gone I suggested Burger King for dinner (I’m not a fan of fast food, but I needed to find a way to redeem the day).
• As we entered the garage to load up the car I heard a huge gasp behind me.  I turned to see Sydney spying a poster (that I had made for her Kindergarten graduation filled with pictures and artwork and cherished memories that was being stored in the garage because it was a treasure) wedged underneath my front tire.  It had slipped off the work table and I drove over it…completely oblivious, I swear to you.  The pain in her face was confirmed when she cried out, “How could you!  How could you!  You don’t care about me, or my birthday, or my special poster!  This is the worst day ever!”
• I stood speechless.
• Before bed I apologized again.  I wanted to say, “Hey kiddo…I’m only human…get used to being disappointed with me.”  But instead, I wrapped my arms around her and told her how blessed I am to have her as my girl.  How grateful I am that God gave her to me.  And how amazing my life is because she is a part of it.  I told her about the day she was born, how the sun shined and how I loved looking at her 6 pound, 12 ounce, 18 inch body.  How soft her skin was and tiny her toes were.  I could almost smell her fresh-from-the-womb downy hair and wrinkly skin.  Sydney was a beautiful baby, and I love watching her grow into a beautiful little girl.
• After this treasured moment with my birthday girl, she slipped her tooth under her pillow and smiled up at me.  Tomorrow would be a better day.

And so, today began with, “Mommy!  The tooth fairy forgot to put money under Sydney’s pillow last night!”

Thankfully, Sydney knows that I am the tooth fairy, and after yesterday I believe her expectations of a super hero mommy have been lowered tremendously.  At seven years of age, my daughter is keenly aware of my humanity, and somehow she still loves and adores me.

So, this evening we will be enjoying a scrumptious dinner, cake and presents in honor of Sydney…our birthday girl.  And tomorrow…she gets her ears pierced.  This birthday is shaping up to be unforgettable…kind of like Sydney herself.  She is truly unforgettable.

Happy birthday, my sweet girl!  You are more than I could have ever dreamed or hoped for…and I am so blessed to have you.  Your birthday reminds me of the precious gift your life has given to me.  I love you!

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