I can hardly believe that it was eight years ago that I first began my induction with Olivia. It feels like a whole life ago, and I guess it actually is a whole life ago. It was the beginning of Olivia’s life this side of the womb, the beginning of the life of our family, and the beginning of my life as a mother.
Olivia has changed almost everything about me. I had to learn to love myself so that she can grow to love herself. I had to learn to be responsible so that she would also be responsible. By teaching her to be respectful of all people, she challenges me to be respectful to others as well. She is excited about almost every day, and it rubs off on me. She is self motivated and a hard worker, which inspires me to get my work done. We could never have planned to be changed the way she has changed us, but all of the best changes always seem to be surprises.
Liv and Rob bond over reading books together. They are slowly working through every sci-fi and fantasy novel ever. Over the summer they read the first two Harry Potters and The Hobbit. He just ordered The Dragon Egg for her on his Kindle which she is carrying around with her all day. She read the first four chapters just this afternoon.
Olivia and I bond through being outdoors together. We love to hike and go camping. She is really proud to have me be her Girl Scout leader, and it fills me with joy. She has plans for building a girls only camp site on an island in the Cuyahoga River. I wish her all the luck in the world. Good thing we learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, she won’t go starving.
So here we are. Three kids later, our oldest is half way to driving. She likes to remind us all the time that she’s almost a teenager. I’m glad she’s not right, but I must say I don’t really fear parenting older kids like I once did. As they get older, we can do more together. We talk about their world, we make plans together and get them done. Also, they just spend time cracking me up. Eight years in and we’re just getting going!