Columbia SC ‘s Child Photographer | Personal Blogging…..warning! Proud Mama at the keyboard!
October 7, 2010I’m warning you now…..if you don’t want to read a blog post by a proud mommy declaring how amazing her beloved daughter is, just move along……this post isn’t for you:) But I have been told that some of my readers, blog stalkers, friends, and family members like the personal blogging, so here it goes!
Yes, my daughter is exceptional. She makes me proud and I love her like I never knew I could love anyone. I want so many wonderful things for her in life. And one of the things I have always wanted for her is to have a voice…..a strong and confident voice. I was painfully shy and often socially awkward growing up. Well, I joke that I still am socially awkward…only I’m not really joking. I still find it difficult to speak up in groups of new people, when I am out of my element. And I find it so difficult to open up and let my own light shine sometimes. Ok, wait! This is about her and not me!!! So, enough of the history. Just know that having my daughter feel confident enough to speak up, be herself, let her light shine, have a voice that not only speaks kindly and confidently to others, but to herself as well is really important to me.
Some days ago my daughter had a writing assignment in school. She is a 6th grader and new to middle school and the assignment was to write about middle school fears. She gave it to me to read over before turning it in. As I read this paper, my eyes welled up with tears and my heart swelled with pride. This paper was so clever and funny. She had this amazing tongue-in-cheek, dramatic flair to the paper that seemed so well developed for a child of her age. My daughter is quite dramatic at times – and who in the world knows where she got THAT from (snicker) – but this was more complex than the usual drama. I was so moved by reading it that I had my husband come in the office to read it too. Immediately my husband said, “You should blog this”. I was unsure my daughter would appreciate that.
Earlier this week when picking my daughter up from school she excitedly told me about her Language Arts teacher reading her paper to the class and giving her a 100 grade on it. She said, “She told me I had a great voice”! I was thinking, “Yeah! I knew that!” Oh man……proud moment.
So with my lovely daughter’s permission, I am putting her piece here on the blog:)
Middle School Fears
You wake up to the sound of your alarm clock. Reluctantly, you get up and mark a day on your calendar until the first day of school. Suddenly, you realize it’s the first day of school! You put on your favorite clothes, grab your school supplies, and you’re off to middle school. However, your fears start to pop in your head.
One of the first anxieties you have is, could people think I’m wierd? They couldn’t think my clothes are weird, I mean they’re so cute! And, they couldn’t say things like, “Her hair is so messy!” or “Her feet are so big, I wouldn’t be able to fit them in my locker, even if I tried!”, because it’s not true! Plus, they couldn’t think I sound weird, because I sound perfectly normal! But the closer you get to school, the more worries seem to form.
Next, you start thinking about lockers. What if my locker is so messy I can’t find anything? I couldn’t imagine starting off the day like that! I would be stressing and saying, “Where’s my test? I can’t find it!” The bell rings, and I didn’t find it. Great! Now I have to tell my teacher that my dog are my test! Once again, I’m at my locker. This time it’s, “Why can’t I find my homework?” Why is that dog always eating my stuff? Still, it’s not all your fears.
Last, you start fretting about making it to class on time. Now I have all my papers. But wait. What’s this? It’s that really big crowd that’s always clogging the hallway! Why can’t they, well, you know, not clog the hallways? After what seems forever, I finally get through the crowd. Just see how far you can push this school girl! Well, now there are major talkers clogging the hallway! After pushing and shoving, I get through the hallway, and realize I left a paper in my locker. I race back, only to find out that my locker won’t open! I won’t ever make it!
After spending a few weeks at middle school, you realize it’s not that bad at all. People don’t think you’re weird, at least not that you know of. Your locker is near and organized and the dog finally learned not to eat paper! And you haven’t been late to class once! None of your fears have come true, and you’re surviving middle school!
Just throwing a couple of snaps from our adventures in Texas this summer up here since it doesn’t seem like a real post with an image or two:)
Rachel Aberle posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 12:42 pm.
That is so beautiful. What a special girl!
Julie Wagoner posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 1:04 pm.
What a wonderful job she did with her assignment! I’m going to let my 4th grade daughter read it as well when she gets home from school.
Michelle L posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 1:52 pm.
What a great story! And good for her knowing beyond a doubt her clothes are cute! I was never sure when I was her age.
Kelly Mack posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 4:22 pm.
That is beautiful. She sounds amazing Ashley!
Lynn posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 5:02 pm.
I thought this assignment was great too. How common these fears are! And yet, the girls, the kids in general, seem to be doing great! So proud of that daughter of yours, and of that daughter of mine!
Aunt Amy posted the following on October 7, 2010 at 9:23 pm.
Lord, that makes me proud! What confidence!
amy posted the following on October 8, 2010 at 7:08 am.
Awh.. this is wonderful…. You have a little amazing girl there..
Laura Morita-Yeun posted the following on October 8, 2010 at 4:08 pm.
Please tell your daughter that she is totally awesome and I totally love her personality that just came shining through in her writing. Also, if you could let her know–she’s totally beautiful and so is her mommy.
amy lenhart posted the following on October 9, 2010 at 8:32 am.
great post ashley!!! i can see why you are so proud of her! love the pics too!!
Brandi-lee posted the following on October 10, 2010 at 6:04 pm.
You brag all you want, thats one gorgeous, talented girl you have, be proud!
Tori Piercy posted the following on October 10, 2010 at 8:45 pm.
Awww great story! She sounds like such an amazing girl <3 Beautiful too!
Liz posted the following on October 11, 2010 at 8:48 am.
What a great post! Loved reading this and the pics are gorgeous!
natalie lawson posted the following on October 11, 2010 at 9:44 am.
i can see why you are so proud!
Leiba Bernstein posted the following on October 11, 2010 at 8:13 pm.
Loved this! She is so talented and smart, not to mention gorgeous! Brag about her anytime!
Clarice posted the following on October 11, 2010 at 11:01 pm.
What an amazing daughter you have!
Carrie posted the following on October 12, 2010 at 5:18 am.
That star shot is amazing!
desi posted the following on October 12, 2010 at 6:02 am.
one word: wow
Samantha Proctor posted the following on October 12, 2010 at 8:05 pm.
great post Ashley.. loved the paper
Dawn Kitley posted the following on October 16, 2010 at 2:51 pm.
Wow, what a great paper. I was never that vocal in my papers, Middle school is tough, such a different animal than grade school when you’re at the top of the totem pole, now you’re toward the bottom. I can see why you’re so proud, Ashley!!
Marissa posted the following on November 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm.
That was so great – makes a fellow mom proud! Thanks for sharing