Writer’s Workshop: It’s Almost Like Looking In A Mirror
by Jenners • 06/23/2010 • BB/The Little One, Writers Workshop • 27 Comments
This week, I’m choosing Prompt 3: What does your child do that reminds you most of yourself? How does it make you feel?
Dear Little One,
Remember how I told you that Daddy and I made you? (Though I need to point out that I did 95% of the heavy lifting on the whole “making” of you.) Seeing you grow up, it is easy to see where the little bits of Daddy and me (and even your grandparents) are coming out in you … though a lot of you is purely, uniquely you. Here’s some of what I’ve seen so far.
- You’ve got Grandpa Andy’s hairline … you had it from day 1 and it freaked all of us out a little bit. He died right before you were born, but his hairline lives on in you.
- You’ve got my moles … so be sure to check them to be on the safe side. But it is purely, cutely, uniquely you that you have matching moles on both your knees.
- You’ve got the makings of Grandpa Bill’s eyebrows .. I can tell that already. Sorry about that! If it makes you feel better, I got them too. The good news is that they work better on a boy than a girl.
- You’ve got Daddy’s math skills. Let’s all be glad for that! I’m pretty sure you’ll surpass me in math in about 2.5 years (maybe even sooner).
- You’ve got Daddy’s face from when he was a boy. It is uncanny really. When Grandma Rose showed us a photo of Daddy right after he was born, it could have been a photo taken of you. It will be interesting to see how much of this “twinness” you retain as you grow up.
- You’ve got my nose (but in a much more pleasing form).
- You’ve got Daddy’s stubbornness. I think you guys are really going to start butting heads in a few years, and I think you’re going to give Daddy a run for his money. I’m really going to enjoy sitting back and watching those fireworks!
- You’ve got my curious mind and love of learning. You want to know everything about everything and look forward to school, just like I always did. It cracked me up when you came home from kindergarten a few weeks ago all angry because you didn’t learn anything new that day. I love that about you, and I’m doing my best to keep up with you. And I still don’t have answers for you on how many people have been alive and exactly where God lives or how the first person came alive. I’m working on it though.
- You’ve got my poof and cowlick. I’m so so so sorry … you’ll hate it for the rest of your life. (Trust me … I know!)
- You’ve got Daddy’s ability to tan instead of burn. Be very happy about that. It isn’t a gift I share, and I’m very very jealous.
- You’ve got Grandma Gerri’s lack of smell. That is just weird but it seems to be true. If you didn’t smell that poop you produced the other night, you really can’t smell. That was lethal!
- You’ve got Daddy’s tooting ability. I swear that I cannot tell the difference between your toots and Daddy’s toots in force, power and smell. For a little boy to toot like his father at such a young age, it must be a special (albeit dubious) talent.
- You’ve got Daddy’s early rising gene. This is what has caused and will continue to cause the greatest problems between you and I. When are you going to start sleeping in like a normal person!!!???? Just sleep until 8:00 a.m. in the summer .,. that is all I’m asking for!
- You’ve got my tendency to stand back and observe when you’re in a new situation and with new people. I do the exact same thing. Some people might view it as being snobby, but I know it is just shyness. (And I also know that once you are comfortable, you’ll be the loudest one in the room.)
- You’ve got my keenly developed sense of right and wrong. That makes me proud, but you’ve got to be careful not to turn into a tattletale. That won’t help you out in the long run.
Seeing you grow up has been such an amazing journey so far, and I know I’ll continue to see more of Daddy and me coming out in you as you grow up. But I also see so many parts of you that don’t come from either one of us. For example, you seem to be able to carry a tune. That is unprecedented in our little family. You also seem to have really good eyesight … let’s hope that sticks! And for some reason, you seem to have a hoarder gene in there somewhere. This is hard for Daddy and me as we’re both purgers, but we’re trying to deal with your need to save every single little thing forever. (By the way, don’t look too deep in the trash can … some of your “treasures” are in there. Oops!)
You’re a great little kid who gives me joy every day (as well as a headache). I know you will end up being a lovely little combination of me, Daddy and yourself … and I can’t wait to see how it all ends up!
Love,
(AKA Mommy)
It is so fun to see all the little likenesses! And you'll see his little attitudes popping up, wondering where he got this or that and suddenly realize maybe you scream too much or wash your hands to often or say quirky things, that only he showed you.
Scary stuff! lol
How sweet.
This is a nice way to keep a record of all of those things.
I've been saving this post for when I could really concentrate on reading. It's so precious! I love the mix that you see in the Little One. It's one of the definite joys of parenthood.
And one day I will let you have Z for the night. He stays up until 10pm but then sleeps until 9 or 9:30. It's heaven in the summer!
That was awesome, Jenners, I loved it! But sorry about your kid's poof. That's rough.
HOW did you figure all these things out. My list would look something like this:
Emma- you got my hair
Garrett- you look like your dad
Grace- You're a mix of your dad and me.
Twins-OF COURSE you look like me.
I'm good, aren't I?
Awww, this is a sweet post. It's just fantastic seeing how much are kids are like us isn't it? At least you know that he will turn out just fine because both you and your husband are great people
I hope you show this to him some day. Very sweet. I love that you did 95% of the heavy lifting. Can I use this sometime?
This is so sweet! I wanted to just reach out and hug that little boy by the time I got to the end. You are a good and funny mama.
That was the sweetest letter Jenners…funny but totally cool
That is such a great letter!! I was cracking up at the tooting part! And who knows, maybe he'll grow into his eye brows?
Beautiful post Jenners – the detail with which you describe the characteristics and features of your wonderful little boy so sweetly just shouts out your love for him. I think you should get this printed and framed for him to keep as it is lovely.
great post and I notice some of those things with my kids too.
what a very very sweet post. One day his wife will love reading this.
the little one is put together nicely it seems–especially love grandpa's hairline, the moles on the knees and the cowlick. Hope he has a bit of your fun personality too.
This is so great! I thought of doing this one but ended up choosing another one. My oldest son looks and acts so much like me but the youngest is his biological dad (who died when he was a baby) made over. It's almost uncanny at times how much he looks and acts like that man. Sometimes I catch myself about to call him by his name!
When our girl was an infant/toddler/before she started growing hair, I used to be able to swap out photos of her with my husband's baby pictures and fool even him.
And they also have matching personalities, sigh…
There were some good prompts this week!
That was really fun to read and see where all the little bits come from. I'm sorry that you have two tooters in the house. That's a tough one to live with!
Aww.. very sweet! I hear you about the tootin' thing – my son is also good at that.. powerful stuff (he's 7).
And both kids are early risers – a lie-in in our house means being allowed to sleep until gone 6 am!!
This will be a great one for The Little One to look back on someday.
My poor kids have all of my husband's and my worst character traits. It's a very frustrating combination.
So cute how he has something from everyone. I know my oldest has my dad's ears for sure. I think my kids may have also inherited my over worrying gene. My husband swears that I made them neurotic at times.
Those stubborn battles between your two men should be very interesting in those teen years!
What a special post for Little One. He may not appreciate it now, but you must save it for him!
Aww, that is so cute! Are you going to let him read all of these blog posts someday when he's older?
I thinks seeing all the little parts of the people we love come together in one person is the most awesome, amazing thing about being a parent (even when it is the bad parts). I love that Bud has my Daddy's smile and that Baby Girl never meets a stranger just like her grandmother (even though it terrifies me). Great post. Good job picking out so many things.
And once again we're doing the same prompt.
Awww, so cute. It's interesting seeing the mash-ups that occur in babies/kids. Your nose, my hairline, your ability to scream at unprecendented levels…ah youth!
Hayden was born with Jeff's hairline and it was really freaky. He still sports it to this day.
Oh and I am doing a different Mama Kat post tomorrow, and I may or may not mention you in it
Great post!
Sometimes Eric and I say we should not breed, as the kids have my stubbornness and his drama, a lethal combination, but they are cute too so I guess it works