Adi has been looking forward to turning seven almost from the moment she turned six. “When I’m seven I can drive to Target myself.” Just this week she went on and on about how when she is seven, she will live next door to us. She will still come over for snacks and if she sees a spider at bedtime. But, she will have her own lawnmower and plant her own flowers. Yes, she has big plans for her seventh year.
If you know Adi, you might understand why none of us have had the guts to tell her you need to be 16 to get your drivers license. Her wrath is sometimes lethal.
Yesterday, she once again asked, “How many days until my birthday?”
“Go check the calendar,” I said.
“My goat calendar?”
“Any calendar will do.”
And she was off. I didn’t think anymore of it until she reappeared a while later asking for a ruler. Ruler in hand, she disappeared again. I peeked in on her a while later to see a stack of papers like this:
There were also quite a few discarded pieces of paper scattered across the floor. Clearly, she had run into a few obstacles with whatever plan she had dreamed up, but I kept my distance.
I stayed far away until she erupted. She came to me, stomping and frustrated, holding strips of paper that she was trying to link together, in numerical order, to create a numbered countdown chain. “Nothing is going right.” Impressed with her plan and execution so far, I knew she was moments away from throwing in the towel.
“Is there any way I can help?” I asked.
“If you cut, I can glue?” she kind of asked.
“How about I tape and you cut,” I compromised, worried with 47 chain links, we might be there for a while. I waited a moment, the decision balancing in the air. With Adi, you never know which way she’ll go…
She finally landed on accepting help.
We are now officially counting down to seven, the year Adi will drive a car, mow her own lawn…but still visit us, just to raid our snack cabinet.
46 days to go!
Where There Is Joy 
I think our daughters could be best friends! I love how you captured her personality in this piece. I hope—mostly for your sanity—that those days pass quickly!
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Seriously she is the best–you capture her six year old personality simply yet accurately here! “With Adi, you never know which way she’ll go…” That sums it up! Your word choice, “Is there any way I can help…” and then letting it linger in her mind….now that’s a good mom move! AND, she’s a smart girl – mom’s always have the best snack cabinet!
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Adi cracks me up! And I think her next step should be to market birthday countdown chains! It might help to pay for her car!
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Don’t forget that she’ll come back if she sees a spider at bedtime! What a sweet slice that captures her spirit in a great anecdote. She might be a little let down once she turns 7, but the next 46 days are going to be a hoot!
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I love all the spunk and vitality you captured in this post! So sweet!
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Love the line about her wrath- I have a kid like that- and appreciate her tenacity. Appreciate that you stood back to let her do her thing love the end!! What a cutie. Like we say about our most spirited: she will be a very high-functioning adult:)
Xoxox
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She is so sassy! Love it. Your patience shines through most to me in this point. I’m counting down now with you.
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Can you say, “empowered”? Wow. I really love that she’ll be headed to the apartment next door. She is a girl with plans. Don’t tell her about my 24-year-old who still hasn’t fully escaped. She has plans, too.
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Hard to know if she will really go or live here forever. She’ll never admit it, but she likes us a little.
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I can picture this slice happening in your dining room all too clearly. I hope the next 46 days fly by.
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Adi has big plans. Can’t wait to hear more about her birthday. Loved the line about coming over if there is a spider. Trust me, I can relate to that!
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How truly, truly lovely she is with all her marvellous plans and ideas! Long may she have them and may many come to fruition!
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