She has been 12 now for 24 hours, but my oh my, how she has changed in the past few years.
Below I will share the joys and not so joys from ages 8 &12.
Becoming a Young Women's December 2010
It has been 3.5 years since Alyssa and I began our relationship - back on 7/19/2007.
She was just a wee 8-year old, who wore this outfit about 5x a week that summer!
She did a great job in her first rigorous hiking season.
Back in 2007, she was very disorganized.
When I remember this age, she was so submissive and sweet and loving.
She just went along with any new idea or food.
The first summer we spent nights together, she was always scared at night.
Had to have a full light on, wake up in the middle of the night and wake us up, it was NOT fun.
She didn't worry about what other's thought, she was just enjoying life easily.
This must have been a tired night.
Not sure what this is, but being silly!
Clearly, she ate without health in mind.
Of course, what little girl wouldn't want a bed time story?!
At age 12, she prompts us to have family prayer at night now.
As long as she was doing something, she was having fun.
Her first trip to Maple Valley!
It was really nice to leave age 8 behind.
9 and 10 seemed to be a great ages, almost like the best of both worlds.
Then, the second half of 11, she began to be very firm in her likes and dislikes.
That easy little robotic character has learned to challenge every single word and aspect in life.
However, I have been told to find comfort in that trait though, because hopefully that means she won't be pushed around in life and will know how to stand up for herself.
As she approached age 12, it has been great to take advantage of her independence.
She has a lot to manage in her day, from home school, to piano lessons, to babysitting jobs, exercising a ton, and trying to eat vegan, - and this is quite impressive!
She has been babysiting for a year now and even this week, she made more than $75.
She has become quite modest and this has been cute to see.
She didn't even think it was appropriate to sit on Santa's lap recently.
I was caught by surprise on that one.
Even I wanted to sit on Santa's lap - but at least she would still allow a family photo with him.
I am glad she enjoys a simple clean room now, clutter free.
As a 6th grader though, we are working on moving to that next level of quality in school work.
Really trying to get it home that elementary school is over.
Learning and studying and writing has is very taxing on the brain right now.
She has grown a lot this past year.
She has the same size waist for nearly 3 years, but the sleeve and pant lengths are creeping up continually.
If she has to ride in a car without reading, your ears hurt from all her chattering.
She can not sit quiet at all.
I am not concerned though because she rides her bike and swims often and that is good quality brain time for herself.
Everyone needs to know how to be quiet and alone with themselves.
It is important.
Man, oh, Man - the mood swings though.. they are simply alien-like most days.
We are proud of her excitement to travel without us and that she has experienced deep accomplishments this year.
We encourage her to write these memories down now to re-read later in life.
It is hard not to spoil a child by giving them their own way.
She is at the age where she is not happy unless she is getting her own way.
Finding the line of when to give in versus when to not, is super tricky.
Clearly, you can't cater to their every whim, just to have harmony in life.
Well, that is a small glimpse into our life right now with a 12 year old.
When the going gets rough though, I try to remember that we are pretty darn lucky to have such a good child.
