She really is a good kid

So as you can see from posts and if we are friends on Facebook you will notice that my world for the last couple months has been about my baby boy and I feel like I've been publicly neglecting my daughter. I say publicly because I have not been neglecting her at home, I just haven't been facebooking, blogging or tweeting about her. It's hard because she's at the age where she does her thing and then goes into her bedroom and blasts music. She is a teenager who most of the time feels like I don't get her and I think she's irritated by me so we don't spend as much time together as we should. There are those moments where I get a glimmer of the little girl who loved to be with her mommy 24/7. When my husband is at work she'll come with her big 14 year old self and ask to sleep in my bed. I figure what the hell she will be away at college in three years and I will not have these moments anymore. So we'll lay in bed and watch the silly reality shows that she loves and talk about how ridiculous yet entertaining the characters are while snacking on microwave popcorn. It is in these moments where she lets her guard down and allows me to enter her world. She will open up and tell me about things going on with her friends and the antics that occur in school and maybe tell me about a boy that she likes. I appreciate these times because every day I ask her how was school and did anything interesting happen and almost always her response is "fine" and "nothing". Then eventually shes falls asleep before me and drools on my husband's pillow....LOL. She is also my shopping buddy which I think is awesome about having a daughter. She has no problem keeping up with me going from store to store especially if she knows she's getting something.

Even though we bump heads and she is able to weave a wicked tale at the drop of a hat to get herself out of trouble, deep down she is a good person. I see that because when I am not feeling well she will offer to make me something to eat without my having to ask or do something a little extra. She especially loves her baby brother and I can tell that she will always want to protect him. I call her a drama queen because she is, that's just her personality and I've learned to tolerate that side of her. She is extremely intelligent and respectful to those outside of our home. Whenever I meet with her teachers they have nothing but glowing things to say about her. I almost always have to hold back tears during these meetings because I am so proud that she conducts herself with dignity. I guess that is why her attitude in the home upsets me so much because I know she knows how to behave. I often ask her why do the strangers get the respectful child.

I do expect a lot from her because when she's out in the real world life will be 10x more challenging. She has a set schedule to follow when she comes home from school that involves reading, going over the day's classwork, exercising and doing dishes. Once those things are done if there is still time after we have had dinner she is allowed to watch television. We have had this schedule for so long that it's second nature to her now and I know when she's my age she will appreciate what I've asked her to do. I do not have any problems with her getting up and making it to the bus stop on time. I've actually never had an issue with getting her up for school. She takes after her Father in that respect because my Mother used to have to throw water on my face to get me up. I started teaching her to be independent very early on and now that is coming to back to bite me on the butt because she often feels she should be able to do more than I allow her.

We often think alike. The other day we were in Target and overheard a baby crying. She and I looked in the direction of the cries and saw a little girl about 5 or 6 having a fit. We shot each other a look and Shania said exactly what I was thinking "isn't she a bit big to be crying like a baby"..LOL I mean this girl really sounded like an infant. Then another time, also in Target, we saw a little girl asking her Mom to buy her a soccer ball. The mother told her no because they had to wait for the supply list from the coach. The little girl insisted and had a fit in the store but the Mom stood her ground. I was proud the Mother held to her convictions until about an hour later when we were all at checkout together and what do you know the soccer ball was in the cart. Shania and I looked at one another and when we got outside my child once again verbalized my thoughts "can you believe she got that soccer ball for her after the way she acted". A smile of pride came across my face because I already see the kind of Mom she is going to be.

So this post is dedicated to my often difficult, emotional, moody, drama queen Miss Shania Alexus. I don't know where I would be if God had not put you in my life. You made me focus and you gave me purpose, Mommy Loves You.