My Daughter

This post is about Josie, just Josie. Well, OK, fine. I'll probably compare her to Tessa, but since they can't yet find or read my blog, I think I'm safe.

In the last week or so, I have come to learn one thing. Josie, my oldest, is me reincarnated twenty some years later. We've always thought she looked more like me than her dad. In fact, when she was first born, she looked remarkably like me and really my brother, Matt. She definitely inherited her facial features from her mama.

But, I've come to find out, she's inherited so much more. I posted this photo on Facebook today.

I had a good friend make a comment about how much she looks like me. And, she totally does. My response though is that it goes so much deeper than that. Most recently, I truly feel like I'm reliving my childhood through her. (I saw tons of stuff throughout the school year too - too many to list!) I'm sure this will go in spurts like anything else, but this week has brought to light one particular memory of mine.

Last week, we took the kids to the Greenfield-Central All Comers track meet, just like we did last year. (We're totally becoming creatures of habit.) Josie came in fourth this year. She was STOKED! Last year, she was last place. And, she totally remembered that. All she talked about was how fourth place was awesome and so much better than sixth place. It totally put me back to my days of swimming on swim team and then running in track. I scrapbooked all of my "participant" ribbons and medals as if they were blue ribbons. In fact, I think they're still in mom's basement. I didn't care that I was first - I cared that I did better than the last time.

Of course, as the years went on, I became more competitive. Though never being competitive in athletics, I certainly could hold my own in academics and in my small circle of musical attempts. I'm still highly competitive, though I keep it to myself most of the time. In fact, Tom and I just explained it best to our employees. We want to be the best. The best. At everything. If we put on an event, it's the best. If I'm PTA president, I'm the best. If I run a half-marathon, I'm the best. OK, fine. Maybe not, but I certainly give my best effort.

The trait I love the most about Josie right now is her absolute willingness to try anything, whether she's good or not. (I really don't think I had this as a kid.) Tessa has been working on flipping into the pool and even diving. She's really good. And, Josie's really not. But, by gosh, she absolutely gives it her all. How far will that attitude get her in life?!?! I wish I had more of that in me at this stage in my life. Turns out the kids can teach me a thing or two.

I don't want to mislead you all - she has certainly received some qualities from her daddy too. She has one heck of a sense of humor. And, she certainly does not have my body type. She's thin as a rail. She also has a sort of confidence about her that I never had, and maybe still don't. That's all Tom.

She's also great at making new friends. She goes up to every kid that is within a few years of her, wherever we are, and just waves and asks their name.

Again, how much can I learn from her? A lot. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm looking forward to watching her grow and becoming more like her mama everyday. :)