When I was growing up, my parents moved around a lot. I was a shy child and the moves were uncomfortable and even a bit painful.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I had this notion that I wanted my kids to graduate with some of the same kids with whom they had gone to kindergarten. My firstborn baby eventually became a kindergartener. I registered her for school and away she went. In the blink of an eye, she was finished with high school. She attended schools in the same district the entire time. I was so thrilled that I had given her the continuity I wished for her before I'd even laid eyes on her. I have a son who also graduated recently with some of the kids who were in his kindergarten class. It really meant a lot to me.
A few weeks ago, my younger daughter and I were driving in the car. Kaitlyn is a junior in high school. On this particular day, she was so excited about a song she wanted me to hear. She looked it up on the internet and played it for me. It is a beautiful song by Miranda Lambert about a girl who grew up in a house and as an adult needed to go back and feel that connection. As the song played, I listened and I felt the tears well in my eyes.
When the song was over, Kaitlyn asked, "Don't you think that song is so cool?"
I said, "Well, it is a lovely song. But what I think is cool is that YOU think it is cool!"
She could see that the song moved me to tears. I explained to her that I'd fought so hard for them to have that deep-rooted connection. I told her that her enthusiasm for this song told me she has it....she "gets" the reason for my determination to stay here for so long. This little gray house is the only house every one of my children has known. I brought them each home from the hospital as newborn infants to this place. The colors on the walls have changed, the floor looks different, too. But this is the house that has built them.
Go ahead! Have a listen....click here!
Kaitlyn and Siv met when they were in preschool at the tender age of two! They've been friends ever since. We invited Siv to Kait's third birthday party. In one of the pictures, you see Siv taking a big inhale because she is ready to blow out the candles. Kaitlyn was too slow and Siv got the candles. Kaitlyn turned around and glared at Siv. So what you see in this picture is a slightly hilarious re-enactment.
My kids actually complained that there was too much frosting. NEVER!
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