Somewhere in the middle of fourth grade Rachel hit a huge growth spurt and surpassed her older sister Lily in height. Remarkably, she fails to be the tallest among her friends but, to me, her height reminds me that my babies just won’t stay little forever. The girl looks like a teenager. Yet inside the mature facade lies a sensitive girl waffling between childhood and adolescence, embarrassed at times by the reminders that growing up is inevitable.
Rachel is a gift to our family. At parent teacher conferences a month ago, I remarked to her teacher that if Rachel were an only child, I would think I’d mastered parenting on the first try. She’s that good. Not perfect, mind you, but she succeeds in most of her pursuits, helps around at home, and generally doesn’t make waves with us as parents. We are so grateful to have a Rachel.
At eleven, Rachel has a knack for puzzles and building, her athletic skills are undeniable, and she has a voracious appetite for reading. She was one of only three fifth-graders to make the basketball tournament team at her elementary school and she beats the boys at the game (regularly) during recess. She also attends a sixth-grade math class, which she skates through. Rachel is blossoming into quite the pianist and recently took up percussion in the school band. I anticipate great things from this one. Can’t wait to see where the next few years take her.
Happy Birthday Rachel!
