Twelve

Francie turns twelve today. 

I know twelve may not seem like a milestone birthday, but I like to think it is.  I guess I like to think of every birthday as a milestone birthday.  At least they are for me.

Twelve can be a difficult age.  For Francie, she is walking a fine line as a twelve year old.  She has one foot firmly pointed in the direction of her adulthood, but her other foot lingers longingly in her childhood. 

Sometimes she needs me to relate to her as the young woman she is becoming, and other times she just wants to play with dolls.  I am often not very adept at telling the difference, but I'm learning.

 

She waffles between a burgeoning smart mouth and her still public declarations of familial affection.  Her father calls her "The Tude" (short for "The Attitude") when the sassiness comes out.  She says she hates the name, but she is laughing when she says it.  She knows we've got her back.

Despite all the growing pains, she's a real keeper.  And even when we seem to be driving each other crazy, she is always seeking to help me.  She is motivated by good -heartedness and I can't ask for more than that.

Happy Birthday, Francie! We love you.

And I'll be there for you
When you need me to be
I'll be the sun at your door
I'll be the wind in your trees
If I've nothin' at all on the surface to see
I'll be the ace up your pretty sleeve

"Ace Up Your Pretty Sleeve"

from

Vince Gill's album "These Days"