Monday, May 21, 2018

Alessia at Seven and a Half


I didn’t write this to you when you turned 7, because I was worrying and I didn’t want to write from a place of worry. So I’m writing now.



You were in the Christmas pageant last December. You stole the show. You spoke clearly and with emotion. You were “in character” and you knew it. 

Last fall, you got up in front of the congregation at church and spoke of your faith. You were so small, they had to put a footstool in front of the podium. Everyone applauded. I don’t know if you noticed though that a few adults also laughed, and when I asked a minister about it, he said some of it was nervous laughter. Adults startled into thinking, if this child has made a connection between her faith and the way she eats, maybe I need to as well.



You still worry, a lot, but you’ve also embraced Moana’s theme song and you talk more about your emotions, including the negative ones. (Thank you makers of the film “Inside Out.”)


Last week you let me dunk your head underwater at the pool! Can I say it again? Last week you let me dunk your head underwater at the pool! Bravery is not not being afraid, bravery is what you do when you are afraid. You told me later that day that “there was a little fear,” but you did it!

You are still not sure about this whole friendship thing and how it works and whether or not you are “good” at it, even though you are. 



We love you, all the time and everyday. You are a wonder to me, and here’s a picture of you doing a color experiment on your face with ice cream.