To my sweet Pookie,
As your baby days become a distant memory, I find myself soaking in the "lasts" more and more lately. You've already long moved on from Barbies and LOL dolls, playing shop or watching How to Train Your Dragon (dangit, now I'm going to have to watch it alone). I brace myself because I know what comes next: the "mom, you're sooooo annoying" phase. I actually feel it here already (mainly because, well, you tell me all the time that I'm annoying!), but luckily I also can still convince you to give your old ma a cuddle at the end of the day.
You are a remarkable human being, Samina. You are SO FUNNY, so sharp and quick-witted, sassy, such a good analyzer of situations, a great problem-solver. You are responsible and diligent, kind and generous, sweet (when you want to be), careful, thoughtful. Actually, I really *love* the adjective one of your teachers used to describe you last week: solid. You are solid. A solid friend, a solid student, a solid daughter and sister. People can rely on you, and - and this is so important and perhaps my favorite part of the idea of you being "solid" - they can rely on the fact that your words match your actions. You do not waste your time in BS.
Some of your current favorites:
Your phone, skin care and makeup, watching videos on youtube, your friends, spending time with your extended family (especially your cousins, on both sides), gelato and candy, going to America, going to Sun, bowling and arcades, shopping, vacations from school, drawing and being artistic (you've gotten really good at lettering), swimming, Dr. Pepper, family shore week and Woodloch, new shoes and accessories, new pens and highlighters, getting cheap crap at Tiger, having guests over, watching tv, jumping on the trampoline, gymnastics in NJ during the summer, puns.
Some of your current dislikes:
Being told what to do, getting in trouble, when your sister bosses you around, cleaning up, not getting your way, being criticized, being bored, school, homework, wearing your retainer, somehow leading the group project...again, when people accuse you of lying, saying goodbye to the people you love, when you feel somone has done you wrong, being treated like "the little sister", fighting, talking about your feelings.
Being your mom has brought me and continues to bring me such joy, daily, without fail. Obviously parenting is never without its challenges, but being with you is always a laugh, and I learn something about myself pretty much every day.
Thank you for letting me be part of your life, for gifting me with this endless honor of being your Mommy. I love you, Pookie Bear/Sami/baby girl, and I know the future holds such beauty and wonder and magic for you - and I'm just thankful that I get to come along for the ride.
Happy 12th, Sunshine. Mommy loves you, always 💓
