Metal Meredith

Vivienne is in a different Summer Camp this week than she typically goes to. It is a camp that also has swim lessons. So we kill 2 birds and I don’t have to be out in the heat with Henry running around like a madman for an hour. Last year, he just hung out in the stroller, content to watch people coming and going and getting a bottle every so often. I kept him cool with a small, battery operated fan and lots of shade. It was 2 weeks of 100 degree temperatures.

She came home today, just like last year, telling me that she hates it and doesn’t want to go back. They made her put her face in the water (the horror!) and she doesn’t like that AT ALL. She has agreed to try it one more time tomorrow. If she hates it, she will agree to go one more time on Wednesday. By Thursday, she will be having a blast and there will be no more fierce determination.

The teacher sent me this photo today.

What gives away that she is my kid? Is it the blonde hair? The blue eyes? I know. I know what you are all thinking. It is the 6 pack, right?

Vivienne remains unphased. She tried, but thankfully failed last year, to avoid turning 4 years old. It was months of her insisting that she would not turn 4, would not blow out candles, would not allow us to sing for her. We did it all anyway.

This year, she grasped the reigns of her birthday and ran full force with it. We had one of those giant parties with a lot of kids. It was actually a lot of fun and painless in all areas but the wallet. However, I did not have to lift a finger to do more than go down a giant slide, press the button of a camera and make sure the grin on my child’s face never disappeared.

It is not hard to believe she is 5. After all, our lives have changed so much since she came into the world. I tried to tell her tonight about what was happening 5 years ago at her bedtime tonight. She just listened and then asked, when will I be 7? How about 9? When will I turn 15?

I just smiled. Took a much needed deep breath and told her to slow down and go to sleep. 

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