Thirteen in 2013

"I'm not really done with childhood" is what she said when she reflected on being a new teenager. And I assured her that she didn't need to be done with childhood yet. Rachael, being the critical thinker, went into an explanation of life stages. I think the idea of growing up bugs her a little. As adventurous as Rachael is, she has always craved stability and clung to the familiar. The title of teenager signaled a transition to her and she expressed that she wasn't really comfortable with that. Transitions used to throw Rachael for a loop and each shift of schedule or location was disruptive. This past year had some major transitions, a new little sister, middle school, a huge home improvement project with a new bedroom and shift to having her own room, and I watched Rachael handle each, with a new emotional maturity.

Rachael is a fantastic big sister. Her love is not smothering but instead makes her available and tender. Johanna seeks Rachael out. At middle school Rachael discovered that her elementary friends weren't necessarily the kids whose company she enjoyed most, and by the end of 6th grade she was hanging out with a new mix of friends. She now has a great group of friends that are smart and quirky and kind, with similar values. The changes in our house were the most challenging and some of the decisions about our addition took some getting used to. Rachael surrounded herself with her things and is thriving in her own bedroom. The regular sibling tension that revolved around sharing a bedroom with 2 other sisters is gone and their relationships are better for it. Sometimes she does mention that she is lonely at night but she is glad for the change. All of these transitions were unsettling but Rachael handled them with a new grace. She isn't done with childhood but she is maturing out of the childish. She is beautiful and I pray she always retains her childlike joy and enthusiasm.

We celebrated her 13th Birthday with breakfast in bed, Mass as a family, gifts and a fun dinner of burgers and shakes. Then Jim, Em and Rae went to see the Desolation of Smaug together.

Happy 13th Birthday Rachael!