And It Starts...(Clara)

Tomorrow morning we have one of many appointments to come in the near future. I am not 100% certain about this, but I feel that this will be a busy year for us and for Clara and Atlanta doctor visits. She gets braces this year...*bleh* She's excited because she will be starting to fix her top teeth, and I am excited for her, don't get me wrong, but I also know what this means for everyone. LOL

Clara is moody when change happens and even though this is a change the she thinks she wants and is ready for, I am over here thinking..."Ok, braces. No gum, no taffy, no cheese or cheesy products, nothing that can get stuck in the braces or pull at them. Painful and uncomfortable adjustments, rubberbands, retainers, etc..."

She's just thinking, "Yay! Top teeth!" :P

She isn't really realizing everything that will go into getting those teeth into place.

So we have to figure out ways to distract her. New snacks to make her look left when she wants to look right. hahaha!
I guess it's a good thing she will be homeschooling next school year too. She definitely doesn't need anything else to make her feel different or self conscious. Aye YiYi

She's entering those teen years now. I am terrified. I am not looking forward to the teen years. Not that I want to rush them along either, I just know that those are the years where parents really start to lose a little bit of the control and have to start handing over more and more control to the kids. I am not comfortable with this at all...

My own teen years are not something that I want my children to even come close to. So I know that I will be a bit overbearing and overprotective, maybe a bit over involved as well. Johnnie's going to read this and think, "You will be?!" LOL

Clara already rolls her eyes and is defiant and disobedient a lot of the time. She is feisty and sassy and she has a smart mouth. She either clams up or she yells out in frustration. She's only 11. Whew! I am not ready for 13-16!! I am hoping it'll all even out by 17, lol Someone comment and give me hope, please!! :P

But she's also starting to come into her caring side a bit more at times too. I see glimpses here and there of her true heart, when she gets excited about her baby brother wanting to give her a hug or a kiss, or he lets her hug and kiss him.
Or when Kat needs a hug and she goes to Clara, and Clara holds her.
Or when Clara knows that Mary has had a rough day, or when Clara realizes that Mary's life has changed and we don't know if it'll get better or worse for Mary in the future, and Clara cries with us. And when I am having a bad day and can't hold back the tears, Clara comes to put her arms around my neck and comfort me.
These are times that I see that she is still in there underneath all of the grimy hormonal, preteen stuff. And believe me, I appreciate each of those moments. I hold them close.

(Originally written on Clara's Blog on 02-27-2016)