missing her

It was hard to send my kids back to school today. If I could have granted them another week of spring break, I would have waved my magic wand and done so… one week flew by so quickly. I am really ready for summer.

We did take two family days to play… Busch Gardens one day and the beach the next. But other than that… my girl worked getting ready for Odyssey of the Mind State Competition. It happens this weekend in Orlando. She and her teammates are very motivated and dream of World Competition, and so her 50 plus hours this past week didn’t bother her too much. But I missed her.

Last night… it was just the two of us. Home… relaxing after our work days. She was in her room doing who-knows-what, and I had settled in on the couch, ready to see what Tivo had recorded. I called to her and asked if she wanted to watch the Amazing Race with me… and out she came. With her blanket and Johnny the polar bear. She has maybe watched two episodes in the past five years… but whatever was going on in her room must not have been too exciting.

I went on and on about “my” cowboys and how I wanted them to make it to the pit stop.. and she smiled and watched with me. When they made it from last place to first, I was thrilled. And although she was probably thinking Mom, get a life, she raised her hand for a high five. And I think, in that moment, she realized she was missing me too. Maybe.

This girl of mine, she is a gift. She frustrates me and amazes me… sometimes in the span of thirty minutes. And I love her. Every little bit of her.

Somehow, it is already Tuesday… and so I unwrap the wonder of a daughter. She is completely herself… with facets more brilliant that any precious gem.