The independent Sarah

Not that there was ever a doubt in my mind, but Sarah is a 30 yr old in a 5 yr old body. In some ways.
Don't ask her to clean the bathroom. She'll manage to clean everything but the mess slapping her in the face. (As crazy as I am I actually considered the COLOR of Sarah's toothpaste when purchasing it. I thought if it was bright enough she could see it to clean the big blobs of it out of the sink! Not so much.)

If she were an object, she'd be a snow-blower. Why, you ask? Because she cleans her room like one. You know...just pushes everything to the side making a clear path. She at least has heeded my warning that we need to be able to get to the window in case of fire. She now extends her path to the window. That's my girl!

For the time being, lets keep her from dressing fragile children. She tends to dress them like they are a Barbie doll. For example, if that shirt is hard to get on, just twist the arm all the way around until it lines up right. Sorry Sophie.

BUT, if you need anything cleaned or taken care of after 730pm (bedtime), Sarah is your girl! Her level of expertise shoots through the roof when she thinks she's staying up late. If she thinks she's sleeping with Mama that night she would cut every blade of grass with nail clippers! She really is amazing to watch. And yet, you can imagine how frustrating that blob of neon blue toothpaste in the sink is at 9 am for me, right?

This morning she wanted to do her school work alone. Those who know me, know I don't tend to hover needlessly (I do hover around Sophie, but I think we can all agree it's NEEDED!!!)...so I saw this as an opportunity to let her spread her wings. I got out her copywork, her math, her grammer/phonics and said "go for it Sista!"
I learned I'm a completely unnecessary part of this homeschool process! She did word problems all by herself!!! She did absolutely everything she needed to do without missing a beat!!! She was soooo proud! Obviously I was so proud too! Every mom loves seeing her little ones do great, and I'm no exception. But the confidence it gives her to see that she can do it without me is priceless. Academically it's easy for me to expect her to act like a mature 5, but emotionally she's still very much a young 5. And that's where my weakness is. Trying to balance her needs in both areas. She loves school and learning. She can sit through, and learn, in 2 hour Chinese classes once a week! I can't even do that! She loves to read. (Thank you Lord! Because I soooooo do not.) She loves a challenge.

She is my little love bug. My chatterbox. My firstborn.
Man, do I love that little girl! Every night I fall in bed so thankful to be away from the talking, the questions, the constant hugs. Yep, it's true. I'm a little independent myself. But then, after about 30 minutes, I miss her like mad! I turn up the monitor to hear her reading. I go in for one last round of questions. I snuggle in the bed with her and say "snuggle up".
Kindof like life I guess. You work so hard to make them independent and send them into the world, but then they are gone and you just want to snuggle them again.

And as the cherry on my Sarah sundae...she just drew Jesus on the cross and said "here's Jesus nailed to the cross and on the 3rd day He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God!"
And then bursts into a vibrant verse of Sam I Am!

Life is good.

**edited to add**
Big moments in the Swan house tonight. :) Sarah just read the 1st page of the BIBLE!!! Her very "real" Bible that she works on but gets discouraged sometimes. She read the whole first page!! (only 1700 to go!) I cried. She is so proud she can hardly contain herself. She ran off singing "I can't believe I can read the Bible! I've waited so long!!! I can read the Bible!!!". Oh I can only imagine Heaven enjoying that little chorus!
And now, she's off to do her Chinese homework with Daddy. And let me just say, it's a bit humbling to see your 5 yr old reading Chinese symbols.
She LOVES learning!

Oh, Sophie? What did she learn today? Ummm. That Mommy doesn't like it when she runs into the street like a streak of lightning. And that Mommy will only do that game 2 or 3 times before strapping you into the stroller. And that after a morning of that, Mommy probably isn't taking you outside that afternoon. And lastly, Mommy is a wimp.
:)