Happy 8th Birthday Maren!

>> Saturday, May 16, 2009



The night before Maren was born, I was admitted to Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge, IL. I was begging Jon for 5-Cheese Lasagna from Leona's, and cruelly, he turned me down, using the pathetic "you can't eat in labor" excuse. Hullo? Have you given birth? I need energy to get me through it. Anyway, I had to settle for ice chips and sugar-free hard candy. So, today, when I asked Maren what she wanted for dinner, it was only fitting that she asked for Manacotti -- a girl after her mother's cheese and tomato sauce lovin' heart!

Ah, yes, it is true, my little MareBear turned 8 today, and I really don't know how. She was just my infant who talked to angels in the morning. I'd peak in her room and she'd be speaking in the most beautiful high pitched tones that clearly were intended for a celestial audience.

Then, she was my toddler who began ballet lessons and was scared her first time on stage, yet next week, she will have her 5th recital and she is eagerly anticipating her performances. Just a few short years ago, I wondered if she'd fit in with typically developing peers, and today, I have to wonder why I ever worried to begin with; she has dear friends -- friends who see her weaknesses and her strengths -- friends who invite her to parties and sleepovers, and friends who argue with her when they think she is wrong. Friends.

I sit back and just stare at my 8 year old and can't wait to see what the next 8 years will bring. More dance recitals. More friends. More girl tiffs. More sleepovers. More movies. And, boys....yes, in 8 years I presume Maren will have a boys in her life...cute boys! And, of course, she will have heartaches and heartbreaks.

In the next 8 years, Maren will continue to have amazing friends. Some of her friends now will be friends with her for life. She will make new friends, too. But, she will also seem increasingly behind her friends in some areas, as they develop more quickly than she will. And, some kids who have included Maren will fall away as their interests change. Some kids who previously didn't judge Maren will begin to judge. And, her heart will hurt. My heart will hurt.

And, then, I'll step back and dry my tears, shake it off and remember the tween and teen years are rough on every kid -- regardless of chromosome count. I will remember to focus on the friends who love her, not the peers who judge her. I will force myself to the reality of the world: nobody is universally loved. There are people who dislike President Obama, Stephen Hawking, Oprah Winfrey, Michael J. Fox, and even the Dalai Lama. People who chose to be judgmental will always find flaws. They will find them with Maren; they will find them with Jonah, they will find them with Archie, and God only knows, they don't have to look hard to find them with me.

So, each day will will continue to love and celebrate and enjoy all that is our Little Miss Magic. She will continue to grow and flourish. She will get older, taller, smarter, sassier, even funnier (if that is possible!). She will continue to show the world how beautiful she is -- and those who believe in magic, they will certainly find it in her.

Happy 8th Birthday Baby Girl! Each day with you is the greatest present I have ever gotten.

11 comments:

Anonymous 8:03 PM  

I raise my glass in celebration of you! Cheers to you Ms. Maren and your most wonderful mom!

The Hapa Girl 10:48 PM  

Happy Birthday M! You are only one day older than my little Drama Queen! I can't wait to share her story with everyone tomorrow! I wonder if you both have the same dramatic attitude???

Happy Birthday from all of us!

Sharon 4:33 AM  

Happy, Happy Birthday Maren!

Lisa 2:15 PM  

Happy Birthday Maren!!

Monica Crumley 2:22 PM  

Happy 8th Birthday, Maren. Eight is Great! Thanks for your mom for sharing your stories :-)

Michelle 7:35 PM  

oh my goodness how can she be 8 yrs old already!?

Happy 8th birthday Miss Magic!!

What a beautiful and poignant post this was to read! I hope Kayla is blessed with friends as wonderful as Maren has right now; it's hard being military and moving around and not able to put down roots like that...but I hope it'll come...

Michelle 7:36 PM  

ps - the 16th is also my husband's birthday - so a great day to be born! :)

Unknown 10:49 AM  

I'm a bit late here, but I know you had a wonderful day!

Luv ya!

Mommy to those Special Ks 7:17 AM  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAREN!!! You an my daughter Kennedy (who is also blessed with an extra chromosome) share a birthday! She's just 3 years younger! :) Hope your birthday was beautiful!!!

Betsy 8:18 AM  

What a beautiful post to celebrate Miss Magic's 8th birthday! I'm always uplifted when I attend a school event and I see the kids clustering around Paige, eager to speak to her, and get her to join them in an activity.

It is true that as she has gotten older, (she is 12), some of her friends are a bit younger, but she is still very much a part of her peers.

I sometimes wonder if our kids take a little longer to learn things because they are so busy being such inspirational teachers?

Unknown 6:35 PM  

I'm sitting here with tears of joy,,,,but trying to figure out how I missed this post.

8 years old....it is such a delightful age, and Miss Magic just makes my heart soar.

My New Years Wish is that our little girls get the chance to meet and play this upcoming year.

Happy New Years!

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