Lena’s teacher definitely goes above and beyond. In addition to the two conferences a year, she also does phone calls to check in part way through the trimester. Ours was earlier this week and our conversation was mostly just chat, nothing new, but it’s always good to touch base.

Then she said, “Maybe we talked about this last time, but Lena really adores you. She’s always telling me things you’ve said, in the morning or when we have lunch together… ‘My mommy said..‘ Little bits of wisdom you’ve told her. One day, I think some kids were being mean to her and she came in, in her soft voice, and told the class, ‘My mommy says, I don’t have to listen to anything that anyone says about me.'”

Oh my goodness. I think that I melted into a big pile of goo right there. She heard me. And, my sweet, quiet girl told everyone that truth. She owned it. 

I have to admit, first, that I hadn’t realized that those conversations were really sinking in, let alone did I have an clue that she was parroting them right back to school. Second, wow. What an honor and also what a scary, scary thing to be responsible for. It was a big wake up call to me to be that role model she needs.

So, I’m working on the investment, in all of my kids, but especially this little one who seems to be soaking up my words like a sponge. Yesterday, I heard her call Gus “little man”, something I call him every once in awhile. Today, I heard her say, “I’m proud of…”, something I wrote to her yesterday in a note.

I had told her that I am so proud to be her mom. And I really am.

We were goofing off tonight, and we had a lot of fun taking these photos. (photo bombs by little brother) Sometimes, parenting feels like such a hard task and I feel so way over my head. But, on days like today, I’m reminded that it’s a great gift to be a parent to Reed, Lena, Gus, and even a parent figure to Big L, too. I whisper a prayer of thanks to God for them and for the beautiful journey that is adoption, and also to the 4 women who brought these treasures into the world.