My Eldest

      If you ever get the opportunity to meet my eldest, I must warn you- she is the female version of me.   Funny, intelligent, nurturing, spiritually alive, beautiful inside and out, (she’s got her mama’s good looks  and my “attitude”) plus she’s kind, hard working,  sometimes passive aggressive.     She holds a temporary black belt in Tae Kwon Do    She and her husband   (whom we also dearly love) have made me a “Papa” two times over in the past 2 years. 

    I am a firstborn.    I would compare firstborns to the first batch of cookies from a new  recipee.  You’re not really sure what you’re doing.  It isn’t until you’ve had a few years under your belt do you begin to get a handle on this gig called “parenting”

     (side note- we’ve just added a new member to our family- a baby pig….in many ways  like a young toddler…strong willed, needing to be taught whose in charge) and it’s only now  that I have a quiet confidence on how to deal  with a strong willed personality type.   I am  in charge Miss Winston.  

    When you’re a young parent (speaking only for myself)  it was  confusing….I loved my children,  and wanted them to love me back.  There was this temptation to want to be their friend when I should have been firmer.

      My eldest is an awesome mommy- the picture above was taken at a Ronald McDonald house after the birth of their second child.  He  had a rough start physically and it’s been a grueling past 3 months. 

     I am  thankful for the regular phone calls, e-mails, comments on my blog, letters and ways my eldest has worked to stay in touch with me.  On more than one occassion she has written me a letter expressing how much she loves me. 

     She and I did have our share of “run-ins” growing up.  I’ll let her tell you about any of those stories  if she is so inclined.  (Remember I said she was a female version of me…so you got to figure she has some spunk)

     I’d like to close with this note:

     Dearest Angie,

      Thank you for the many ways you bring joy to my life.  Even when you were little, you were wise beyond your years.   Thank you for the many times you have affirmed me as your dad   with your letters and cards.  You turned out awesome…in spite of my many blunders.    This blog post is my humble way to tell the whole wide world how proud I am of you….As a mommy….you ROCK.   Make sure that  you take the  time to keep dating your hubby- especially now that the little ones have come along…..Love, Dad

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     Note:  This is the first installment of posts celebrating some of the important people in my life