Dawn Green

She is sitting beside me, and as she saw me post to my work blog, she demanded, “Write about me!”  So here you go, kid.

Sigh.  Where do I start?  This kid is so sweet, and truly a love in my life.  Out of the three girls, she is the most demonstrative in her love for and to me and others.  She loves to sit on my lap, and while I might groan, I know that she knows I enjoy her affection.

My struggle with Haley is with herself.  She doesn’t think before she makes decisions that affect her life, health, and safety.  The sad thing for Haley is that she affects her own well-being and her own opportunities.  How can I ever allow her to skip school if I don’t know what she is up to, or I don’t trust her to make smart decisions?

And to her, she’d probably think I take this all to seriously.   I would have thought the same thing at her age!  You never think bad things will happen to you, but they do!  And I read daily about girls that make poor choices, and they pay for them so dearly, and I just don’t want her to be in that group.

Haley is such a freaking chip off the old block!  I have been very fortunate in life.  Despite a late education, I have had the good luck in my business of having an outgoing and caring personality just like Haley.  And despite troubles and stupid decisions as a kid, I am proud of where I am.   I think my Hay-hay can do better and be better.  If only I can keep that darned kid safe from herself, she’s going to turn out just fine.

And to you, my baby, Haley, I want to see you proud of who you are and to have confidence in everything you are.  As I tell Alli, stand tall, hold your shoulders back, and walk confidently.  You are such a beautiful girl inside and out, and you should be confident in all you have and are.  If you were half as proud of yourself as I am, I swear you’d go so far!

The other night, Cayla called me rather late at the office.  I was working late as I have been quite frequently, and she wanted to know how I was and when I’d be home.  Twenty minutes later or so, I drove into the driveway as Cay was backing out with Haley by her side.

Immediately, my mother’s antennae went up wondering where they were headed as I considered the phone call asking when I’d be home.  No worries here.

The girls got out of the car moaning that I wasn’t supposed to have driven up, and then they deposited into my hands a small package of home made chocolate chip cookies.  They knew I was tired, and they wanted to surprise me.

I could cry as I write this.  I guess this is what I meant in my post about Christmas a year ago.  They aren’t such bad kids after all are they?

Haley surprised me unexpectedly by sitting close by my side the other night, and then began to share her Christmas wishes with me. Cayla sent me her Christmas list today by email from her phone. She’s been compiling it for a few months. Rams has yet to share hers, but I’m sure it’s coming.
Today, I sent to all the girls’ phones my own Christmas wish list. If only….

Mama’s Christmas List

– Three good girls who respect and appreciate their mother(s).

– For my daughters to once in a while surprise me with **anything**.

– For one week, let me see not one shoe on the floor.

– A single six week grading period to go by with not a single zero for missing assignments or other work.

– Maybe one time–if it is not too much to ask–a future birthday present selected with care and thoughtfulness for either Stacy or me.

– One weekend where we could all do things as a family without groaning about it.

– Every month for there to be one Sunday night that we read as a family from one of a million beautifully written books.

The cool thing about my list is that it costs next to nothing.