Ten Things of Thankful: Oldest Daughter in the Spotlight

I have five children, and as every parent of more than one child knows, whatever you do with your oldest child sets a precedent for the others.  For example, if you publish a TToT post on one child's birthday, you better be prepared to publish birthday posts for all of the kids--except those who would be mortified, of course.

Before next weekend's TToT post, my oldest daughter will be "one year older and wiser, too," so I've been walking down memory lane, reflecting on thankfuls concerning my daughter.  I'm thankful. . .

. . . for her kind heart.  When she was in kindergarten, she befriended two little Russian girls at her school.  They didn't speak much English; she didn't speak Russian, and yet, they managed to communicate and become friends.  She recognized they were lonely, reached out to them, and gained new friends in the process.

. . .  that she is opinionated, but not demanding.  Every year, when John would take the boys on a father's and sons' outing, the girls and I would enjoy a girls' night.  When oldest (and only, at that point) daughter was about 4, I asked her what she wanted to do while John and the boys were gone.  I was anticipating a restaurant request, or a suggestion to go to a movie or park.  She immediately responded, "Let's color together!"  Crayons were readily available in our house, and she often would color.  I, however, did not usually join in when the kids were coloring.  I spent hours reading books with my kids, and we frequented parks, libraries, and the children's museum, but I got other things done when they colored.  Her quick sentence reminded me that I needed to be more aware of her desires, because she wouldn't necessarily volunteer them.

. . .  for the cute speech patterns of childhood.  Though she wasn't demanding, she did speak early and often.  (I kid you not, she said, "Thank you" at nine months old, when a woman in the pew behind us at church handed my daughter a toy my daughter had dropped!) She generally was easy to understand, but I remember childhood malapropisms fondly.  When she was two, I spent 6 weeks in the hospital.  I loved hearing my daughter's voice on the phone, wanting to come to the "hosbibble" to give me rides in a "wheelbarrow."  The mental image of my pregnant self being paraded through the hospital corridors in a wheelbarrow always made me chuckle.  

Daughter with me in the "hosbibble"

. . . for her determination.  When she was 10, she decided to read the scriptures in their entirety.  She impressed me with her questions, and I realized she was not just skimming over the words, but really thinking about what she was reading.  She read the King James' version of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price before she was 11.  

Her love of reading started early.

. . . for her ability to "tough it out."  At a church campout when she was 4 or 5, she fell and ended up hitting the dirt with her face.  On our way to the emergency room, she told me that she hurt.  I told her that I knew, and that she would feel better in a couple of days when the cuts started healing.  When we reached the hospital and the doctors and nurses were cleaning her wounds, they flushed out lots of pebbles from inside her mouth.  Poor kid!  If I had realized she had rocks embedded in her gums, I could have given her hope for more immediate relief.  Instead, in my ignorance, I had told her she would feel better in a couple of days, and she had stoically accepted my answer.

. . . for her intelligence.  She tried out for Mathletes in middle school, and ended up not only making the team, but placing first in the local competition.

. . . for her desire to succeed.  She walked later than she could have, just because she didn't want to fall.  The Mathlete tryouts I mentioned previously?  She didn't even tell me she was trying out, until she knew she had made the team!  It's OK to fall (or fail), but I admire her desire to do well.  

. . . for her ability to negotiate.  She recently purchased a car.  I was a bit concerned that the dealer might take advantage of her inexperience in car buying, but my daughter did her homework and negotiated a fair price.  When the dealer asked why my daughter thought the price was too high, she responded, "Because I checked the Kelley Blue Book!"  The dealer not only substantially dropped the price, he fixed the stereo, too.  

. . . for her ability to get along with others.  My boys would want to play with Legos; my daughter would want to play with stuffed animals.  Somehow, they managed to play "Cats and Legos" together for hours and hours.  Ask my kids about happy childhood memories, and "Cats and Legos" will probably make the list. 

Notice the markings on this toy cat. . .

 

. . . and compare them to her first real cat!

. . . for the fun we have together.  We sound alike, we laugh alike, and we both enjoy spending time together!

Thanks for oldest daughter!  Happy birthday!  I love you!

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