A Little Elton Goes A Long Way!

...I simply love you, more than I love life itself.

My thoughts of love throughout my life have been put to shame with the love I have for this little girl. I find so much strength by being her mom. I see her struggle with things and I am comforted by how she copes with them. She teaches me so much about life and love, and I can't help but be thankful.

She has this habit of quoting movies. It can be funny and it can be moving. She is a really a good actor, which is something a person like me can appreciate. Her talents are budding before me and I am thrilled to be a part of her life. She was playing her guitar and singing to a song last night while I was making dinner. I had to stop, mid-chicken-dredge, because I'm not kidding...she was on key and was playing along with the beat perfectly. I thought to myself, "uh-oh, could she be the next Hannah Montana?" She isn't interested in her show, which I still find interesting. Though I have higher aspirations for her than to become the next pop-princess, what will I do if she decides she wants to pursue something like that? I would have no other choice but to help her. I think she is talented enough and those talents will only grow. I just have to keep her on the level. Keep her as interested in math and science and literature as she is in art and music. I know it sounds funny but, I would love it if she became a nerdy bookworm with Harvard pendants on her wall. While a lot of mothers wish for a prom-queen tiara, I am wishing for a Valedictorian sash! Although, both wouldn't be too bad either! HAHA!

I have always known, though she has been tough to raise, that she is destined for greatness. She has always been the strongest person I've known. Her determination is staggering! Although it has been a rough road, I know I have been charged with a great task. At times I feel overwhelmed, and other times I feel honored. I realize, yes, most parents believe their child will be fantastic someday...and that may be true. However, the parents that feel this way about their children are the parents of children who are the quintessential, healthy, pretty well-behaved, well put together child . Children like Leahness aren't given enough credit because she doesn't fit into the conformed society we live in. I know I really like a person when they "get" her and love her for who she is. I learned a lot about people in Michigan when I saw how they interacted with her. Some didn't know how to interact with her or were afraid. This really affected her and upset her. We had a long talk about it. She was really hurt by the stand-offishness of some. I helped her feel better, but it hurt me too. Others gave her respect, love, and even wanted to know her more. I learned a lot about people I thought I actually knew. I realized who could see greatness and those who could not. I realized who were conformists and those who were really alive.

She is emotional and not afraid to show it. Boy, is it tough when she is! She dresses herself vividly and artfully and I let her actually walk out of the house in it! Oh My! I give her leeway and I give her manners & etiquette. I give her tools for her artwork and I give her opera. I give her baking & cooking lessons and I give her karate. I give her Shakespeare and I give her Barney. I give her America and I give her England/France/Germany/Mexico/India. I give her yoga and I give her McDonald's. I give her a computer and I give her a Disney Princess movie. I give her star constellations and I give her a skate board. I give her a funky new age hair cut and I give her ballet. I give her a tennis racket and I give her a fabulous couture dress. I give her my world and she gives me hers. I don't ever want her to conform. "Do not conform to this world, but be transformed!" There is so much to this world to not become some of all of it, then transform it into a unique experience. I give her everything I know how to give, in order to create in her a sense of wonder and exploration. I give to her the love that I have in my heart so that she knows it's OK to not be like the other kids. To be something and someone so much more, so much more!

The Ancient Greeks believed that a child's soul chooses its parents before it is conceived. I am not sure why she chose me as her mother, but I am sure she knew what she was doing. As angry as I get at her, she touches my face, looks me in the eye and with the most sincere look says to me, "Mama, I'm sorry. It will all be alright." This, as far as I know, did not come from a movie.