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Welcome to familywisdom.com, a website dedicated to informing and inspiring couples and families. Each week you will find a new article, story or essay about parenting, marriage or life. Suggestions for articles and questions to Ellen Terich are welcome. You can contact her at e.terich1@verizon.net |
A PARTY FOR GRACE 2007-06-08 Grace turned four last Saturday and Grampy and I attended her mermaid-theme party. What a little petite beauty she is, with her strawberry blond hair, fair skin and blue eyes. She had as good a time as a birthday girl can, I suppose, with only a few meltdowns, once when she didn't understand what all the other kids understood, that you had to scramble like a maniac for the candy when the piņata breaks, and again when she didn't comprehend that musical chairs (which she suggested playing) was a game where almost everybody gets to lose. Other than that, though, she did fine, expressing pleasure at all her presents, most of which had something to do with princesses. Grampy and I brought her an outdoor playhouse, which her daddy put together. While he was working on it, the kids all jumped into the huge cardboard box it came in. Later, Sean announced they were going to keep the box, which he pretends is a space ship, "forever." I think his mother may have other ideas, but it has given me an idea for his next birthday. Come January, instead of searching for a present for him, I just may go to Toys R Us and ask if they have an extra gigantic box they want to get rid of. Although Saturday was truly Gracie's day, with everyone focused on her, it is not easy for her to get attention these days, and that may be her reality for many years. With an older brother who gets to claim all the "firsts" and a younger sister who gets all the credit for being cute, it's hard for this middle child to find a comfortable place. Even as we were eating cake on Saturday, for instance, Sean was announcing to everyone that he had his first loose tooth. Gracie's little girl friends were quite impressed. And then Maddie took over the playhouse, insisting on opening and closing the little half door for everyone that came in or went out. She also tried to confiscate a few of Gracie's new toys which, since they were girl toys, looked like they must be for her. At 18 months, isn't everything about and for you? So Gracie will never be the first in her family to lose a tooth, or ride a bike, or go to school, or read, or graduate, just as she was not the first to walk or talk. (She was the first to break an arm, hhowever.) Nor did she have the luxury of having mom all to herself for a while. Sean was already there when she came along, and now that he is in school, Maddie is there full time to demand mom's attention. And Maddie is extraordinarily good at that. Maybe this is what Grammys are for. Maybe a grandparent is one who, among other things, takes the middle child under her wing and helps her to always remember, especially during those times when she feels the curse of being the middle child, how truly special she is. But on Saturday, Gracie's wonderful mommy made sure Gracie knew she was the star. Happy Birthday, Grace! You will have many, many more days to shine. |