Temperament

While we're on the subject of temperament, let's take a minute to spotlight the beautiful differences between me and Ryan. Mom is constantly amazed at how different the two of us can be. While most people will chalk it up to the differences between girls and boys, or the birth order effect, Mom knows that from day one we each had our own hard-wired unique personalities. What's crazy is that these differences are what our parents love the most about us.

Mom and Dad seem to intuitively understand certain things about me, like my shyness and initial withdrawal from new situations. Or how I sometimes need a quiet corner to recharge after a hectic day. I'm a lot like Mom in that way. When people ask her if I'm always "so serious", she just smiles and thinks of this selfie she found on her ipad:

Then she tells them to back off and give me a chance to warm up. She loves the fact that I am self assured and playful with my friends,

but especially proud that when they are doing something I'm not totally comfortable with,

I have the confidence to hold back,

and know that I can wait to try it one day when I'm good and ready.

Some of my poise and self control has been forged over the last 3 years living with the volcano that is my little brother. The fact that I don't do serious bodily harm to him (even when he deserves it) is a testament to my incredibly kind, empathetic heart.

 

As a 6 year old, I am definitely starting to figure out the world. Like, when I asked Mom: "Is Dad in charge of the family, or you?".

I still have dramatic moments of exasperation, mostly at night when Despair hits: "These two things are the worst in my life: brushing my teeth and brushing my hair!".

I'm already mastering advanced concepts of teenage attitude, like when Mom says she doesn't know how to do a fishtail braid and I reply "Can't you just look up a video on your phone?". Or trying to make sense of the world with "You know how people are allergic to peanuts, gluten, and cats? I think I'm allergic to mornings".

The cool thing about having parents that adore you is that they notice every little trait and either cry with admiration and pride or mentally note a teachable moment. And when your mom is obsessed with writing everything down, then 20 years from now you get to look back at these posts and realize that you have always been perfect, exactly the way you are.