This is the year. She finally did it. She told me it was going to happen, and I told her she didn't actually know for a fact that it would, yet it did. Vi out grew me. While she accomplished a lot this year, she might just say this was her greatest achievement.
She really grew a lot this year, and that seems to be the theme of every year...especially since the whole point of these birthday blogs is basically to remark in HOW they grew. But growth overall seems to be the theme in my mind for this year. She matured in so many ways, accomplished so many goals, and did so many new things.
The most notable new thing...she is now a world traveler. We traveled to Iceland, Ireland and Italy in about two weeks, never staying one place more than two nights, traveling by plane, boat, ferry, bus, car, train, even a train on a boat! This girl was in heaven. She loves nature so Iceland was a dream, she wished and hoped to see a puffin, and we did! Ireland was an absolute delight as she saw border collies put on a herding demonstration and was amazed at all of Irelands beauty. Italy is now her favorite place on earth. As someone who has always loved mythology at the beginning our our stop in Italy she became our tour guide through Valley of the Temples. She could have spent days at the beach in Sicily and loves the water. As she has a collection of masks, seeing all the handmade mask shops in Venice was the climax of an amazing trip. Traveling has always suited her, new countries just highlighted her appreciation for everything new she encounters.
After about two years, Genevieve got her braces off, just in time for 8th grade! That was a pretty great start to a school year, but overall, starting this year was great as she was ready to jump back into the things she loves at school. Running everyday for cross country, increasing her times and distance. Joining "Fiddle Club" learning new styles of music to play on her cello and putting on extra performances. Taking Journalism and going to more events to capture photos, including taking photos after her own races. Reading more books for this years 'Battle of the Books' and putting in extra training to once again travel to South Dakota for the Nike Cross Country regionals where she ran a 5k in 26:49!
Everything I have mentioned so far is really just...things. Travel, clubs, hobbies, skills....and while she has grown in so many of these aspects, and we are so proud; watching her grow into a caring, confident, thoughtful teen has been delightful. While somedays I repeat this mantra to myself "Be a smartass, get smartass kids" to remind myself that some her remarks are our own doing; overall, she consistently shows me what a kind hearted person she is. She has had two teachers who have lost pets that she asked to get little gifts for. She asks to spend time with her younger cousins, giving them piggy back rides and asking to host a princess tea party for them and playing with her baby cousin when she goes to work with me. She stood up for a friend in her classroom when the class was picking on them instead of standing by, which directed the class to tease her as well. She asks me how people are doing and what we can do to help when she hears of anyone struggling. She has adamantly insisted that no one can pick on her brother except for her. These are the things that as parents really matter to us the most. Of all the things in the world she could be, kind is one of the best things we can hope for.
As always, she is proud to be uniquely herself. Middle school has presented many opportunities...many, many opportunities to do what it takes to just...fit in. She's not interested in fitting in. Books, Scarlett Witch, Owl House, fantasy anything, nature, classical music, board games, guinea pigs, the color purple....so many things she loves, and she has found the people who accept and love her for her quirky passionate self. It's not always easy when you don't work to fit in, but I'm proud of watching her choose to love herself over and over again.
This year hasn't been as shocking to me that she is turning 14. She has grown so much overall that it feels like....of course she is. Is it going too fast? Yep. Sure is.
