Wednesday, December 03, 2008

heartbreak / #3

it is so hard to be a kid. i think we often forget the heartaches and the insecurities of youth. most of the time i am happy with the choices my husband and i have made for our family. the opportunity, to live outside of the u.s., for our children has been wonderful. tonight though as i sat with my daughter, tears streaming down her face, i felt powerless to help. there was nothing i could say to help her. this is her fourth school. she is in fourth grade! i remember being the new kid. i wasn't outgoing so it took me a long time to make friends. as she struggles with finding her place in school and a very different culture, and finding friends that understand and seek her company as-well, i stand and helplessly watch. i love her. she is smart and fun. she is also so like me. quick to make judgements, feeling every little word that is said deeply. analyzing and berating every move she makes. i hope she knows i am always here for her. i hope i can be her safe zone.

And thou shalt in thy daughter see, This picture, once, resembled thee.[Ambrose Philips (1675-1749),

3 comments:

MsTypo said...

my husband was an army brat and went through much the same thing until he was in HS. I haven't gone through it myself but i understand what its like. I have to say that he is far more adaptable than i am so maybe there's something to all the moves in the long run.

C. JoyBell C. said...

I can understand. I know.

I grew up in, what I like to call "all over the world."

All I wish is that I went to one school, grew up with the same friends, knew my friends' parents, and they knew my parents, could hang out at their houses and make sandwiches with their food in their refrigerators...you know?

It's tough. But just tell your daughter (and this is something I used to recite to myself growing up) "The flower that blooms in adversity, is the most beautiful flower of all."

kate prentiss said...

dear lizzy-loo-

thanks so much for leaving comments on our blog Kiss the Paper... I came over to write you an email about how much I appreciated it, and of course found myself reading your whole blog. what an amazing and fascinating life you are living... quite incredible. This story of your daughter melts my heart... maybe I can write her a letter... xo, Kate www.kissthepaper.com