Tonight, I wanted to talk about my youngest, Emma. Emma is five years old. She was my surprise child. When we moved up to Bainbridge Island we were so happy and relaxed, little did we know that we were a little too happy and relaxed. And rather having a nice ulcer, I got wonderful little girl that we named Emma.
We say that Emma marches to her own tune. Here’s an example of what I mean. Last fall in support of our son, who is a senior at Bainbridge High, we attended all of the football home games in good weather and bad. Our son, of course, would ditch us and stand with his friends while yelling his head off as he cheered his team on to the thrill of victory or agony of defeat. My other daughter, the 7 year old, was fascinated by the cheerleaders and tried to emulate them, telling us over and over as she would wave her arms and legs how she wanted to be a cheerleader when she got into high school. Emma would just take everything in, the people, the noise, of course the food – there were never enough hot dogs even though she had been to Mickey D’s for dinner beforehand. Once when I asked her if she wanted to stand on the sidelines like her brother or if she wanted to be cheerleader like her sister, her comment to me was……No, I just want to be apart of the band. That’s my Emma.
She’s really quite beautiful in her own way too. Hannah, her older sister is pretty. And everyone says that Emma looks just like Hannah, but she’s different and it’s her difference that makes her truly beautiful. But, hey……I’m just her mom. My glasses are a little rose colored as it is.
One thing about Emma she is also my noisiest child, but not in the verbal way…..in a physical way. When Emma moves throughout the house, you know it. Her footsteps are like thunder. Her brother probably out weighs her by 5 times, but he walks like a panther to her elephant steps. At night you can hear her get up in the middle of the night as she thunders from her room to bathroom as she makes her a potty run, that and the fact that she also turns on every light in the house in her wake. Then I usually get up and turn off all the lights and make sure she’s back in bed asleep and cover her up with first her blankie, then her sheet followed by her comforter.
However since I got cancer, she has a new midnight routine. Yes, she still thunders though the house, and yes every light is turned on in her wake…..but first before going potty, she appears out of thin air at my bed and with lights blazing startles me awake. “Emma?” “I just wanted to make sure you were still here Mama.” “I’m still here sweetie, do you need to go potty?” “Yes”, “Well, you better go then shouldn’t you” and off she’d thunder, lights blazing to the bathroom to get her business done. And I get up and turn off my bedroom light, followed by the bathroom, hallway, and finally even her own bedroom light, making sure she was tucked into her bed.
Things have changed since that first time, I’ve been so sick that at times I’ve asked her to turn the lights off and have been unable to tuck her back in. But I still tell her that I’m still here…….and I hope with all my heart I will always be here.
We say that Emma marches to her own tune. Here’s an example of what I mean. Last fall in support of our son, who is a senior at Bainbridge High, we attended all of the football home games in good weather and bad. Our son, of course, would ditch us and stand with his friends while yelling his head off as he cheered his team on to the thrill of victory or agony of defeat. My other daughter, the 7 year old, was fascinated by the cheerleaders and tried to emulate them, telling us over and over as she would wave her arms and legs how she wanted to be a cheerleader when she got into high school. Emma would just take everything in, the people, the noise, of course the food – there were never enough hot dogs even though she had been to Mickey D’s for dinner beforehand. Once when I asked her if she wanted to stand on the sidelines like her brother or if she wanted to be cheerleader like her sister, her comment to me was……No, I just want to be apart of the band. That’s my Emma.
She’s really quite beautiful in her own way too. Hannah, her older sister is pretty. And everyone says that Emma looks just like Hannah, but she’s different and it’s her difference that makes her truly beautiful. But, hey……I’m just her mom. My glasses are a little rose colored as it is.
One thing about Emma she is also my noisiest child, but not in the verbal way…..in a physical way. When Emma moves throughout the house, you know it. Her footsteps are like thunder. Her brother probably out weighs her by 5 times, but he walks like a panther to her elephant steps. At night you can hear her get up in the middle of the night as she thunders from her room to bathroom as she makes her a potty run, that and the fact that she also turns on every light in the house in her wake. Then I usually get up and turn off all the lights and make sure she’s back in bed asleep and cover her up with first her blankie, then her sheet followed by her comforter.
However since I got cancer, she has a new midnight routine. Yes, she still thunders though the house, and yes every light is turned on in her wake…..but first before going potty, she appears out of thin air at my bed and with lights blazing startles me awake. “Emma?” “I just wanted to make sure you were still here Mama.” “I’m still here sweetie, do you need to go potty?” “Yes”, “Well, you better go then shouldn’t you” and off she’d thunder, lights blazing to the bathroom to get her business done. And I get up and turn off my bedroom light, followed by the bathroom, hallway, and finally even her own bedroom light, making sure she was tucked into her bed.
Things have changed since that first time, I’ve been so sick that at times I’ve asked her to turn the lights off and have been unable to tuck her back in. But I still tell her that I’m still here…….and I hope with all my heart I will always be here.
1 comment:
I'm so glad that you wrote about Emma. I wonder about her, probably because we worked together when you were pregnant with her. It is absolutely no surprise that she is her own person because I remember her as being her own person even before she was born. She will live her life to the fullest, and even beyond.
Take care, I'm so glad to see you writting again. This lets me know your spirit is doing better.
Take care,
Cindy
PS - Tell Dylan to go for Loyola. Have him get on the internet. There are scholarships out there to help. He is obviously smart and talented and I'm sure he can find scholarships. Have him talk to his school counselor also. (Having raised a son I know you'll probably have to keep your foot on his back to keep him moving with this, but this is an opertunity he can't miss).
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