Darling girl, now you are five

Darling girl, you’re five. Five! Such a big girl. But still, and always, my little girl. You continue to amaze me every day, with your enthusiasm and your confidence. You live life to the full and you take us all with you.

I find I am struggling to capture you on the page today though. Finding it hard to do justice to the amazing, funny, bright, beautiful little girl that you are.

How can I capture the light and the magic that you bring in to our lives?

I’m not sure I can.

I could talk about how much I love to watch you with your brothers. How it melts my heart to see you snuggle up to them on the sofa, as you watch a movie together. Or see you lead them in some elaborate game, even getting your far-too-cool-for-this-now oldest brother to dress up and join in.

How it brings me such joy to see how close you are, even when you’re driving each other nuts.

I could mention that your spontaneous declarations of love for your family at the dinner table are a highlight of my day. That it makes me laugh so much to hear you say in your super serious voice, with your super serious face on: I just love my family so much, I don’t need anything else.

It’s the sweetest thing, and very funny.

I could talk about what a wonderful friend you are. How kind and sharing, how thoughtful and caring. How you are learning to be more aware of others, more mindful of overwhelming them. You are the most confident and enthusiastic and fun little girl, but you are growing up and beginning to see that there are times when you need to be quieter and calmer.

You still struggle to understand why, sometimes, other kids don’t want to talk/share/play, because, why wouldn’t they? But, now you are quicker to back off and move on to something else. Without the tears. More often than not, they follow on later, and I can see you watching and learning, and waiting.

I know it’s hard sweetheart. This complicated, confusing, ever-changing life. But I also know that you are empathetic and perceptive. You get it. Sometimes you forget, but you get it.

I could talk about many things, but I think this is enough.

I wish the world for you, my darling girl. I wish for a life filled with love and laughter and happiness. I wish for a future where you can be exactly who you want to be, who you are meant to be.

But, for now, I just wish for you. For the bright, funny, happy little girl that I get to see everyday.

Happy birthday sweetheart, we love you very much.