Dear Lila, A couple of weeks ago I dropped you off at Kindergarten and I cried as walked out the door. I didn't cry because I was worried you were going to need me, but because I knew that you wouldn't. I stood awkwardly next to you in the drop off line, waiting for the doors to open. It was like standing next to a grown woman waiting to be called into a business ...
To Elliot on Her Seventh Birthday
Dear Ellie, Today you turn seven. That's almost a real human being. I can remember a lot of stuff that happened when I was seven and that is a terrifying moment for any parent. When you realize that your child is now capable of memories. When you were a baby I figured if I screwed up no one would be the wiser. I just looked at the sky and whistled as I shimmied your leg ...
To Hadley on Her Fourth Birthday
Dear Hadley, Yesterday morning my alarm clock was you leaping into my bed and prying my eyes open while singing, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" about an inch and a half away from my face. Ten minutes later I heard exaggerated sighing coming from the dining room and peeked in to see you resting your cheek on your hands, staring wistfully into space while twirling your fork ...
To Lillian on Her Fifth Birthday
Dear Lila, Tomorrow, you turn five. Sandwiched in between a sister sixteen months older and another sister fourteen months younger, I feel like I have spent the better part of those five years making sure I pay enough attention to you. "Oh, I forgot about Lila" I'll say to myself approximately ten billion times a day. And then I'll find you, usually tending to one of your ...
To Elliot On Her Sixth Birthday
Dear Ellie, A few weeks ago I picked you up from school and you jumped into the van, breathless and electric with energy. "Mom guess what! Wendy had some extra magic and she gave me some! I'm magic now!" "Wow, that's great! What kinds of things can you do?" "Well, I just think about something and then I can make it happen!" Suddenly I had an idea. "Hey! ...