Though my ten year old is not into toys like she used to be, she does love many of our Christmas traditions. One of them is receiving a 12 days of Christmas treat.
Since Quinn is now into smell goods and spa stuff, I had to get her a 12 days of wellness calendar. Though the first day is something she wants to give to me, collagen peptides, 😅, I hope she’ll enjoy the rest.
For years, my daughter and I have been going to the Philadelphia Zoo’s Luminature event for the holiday season. We both love the lights and everything about the atmosphere. But there’s something that has made this activity even more special for us: going with extended family.
Light Up the Night
My mom (Quinn’s nana), my sister-in-law and nieces, my cousin, her daughter and mom (my aunt), have been joining us too. Since Quinn is an only child, I’m so grateful that she has such a close bond with her cousins and that they got to see each other and enjoy the lights together. This most certainly lights up my life.
Something I love about Thanksgiving more than anything is not the food or a day off from work but spending time with my family. Though my mom’s Mac and cheese is a close second, ten year old feels the same. 🥰
I’m so excited for the field trip that I woke up at 2:30am,” my ten year old told me. She then asked me if I was excited too. While I didn’t tell her directly, I was probably a little more excited than her because she actually didn’t mind me volunteering as a chaperone. 🤗
We toured historic Philadelphia and learned some great facts through our animated, lovely and fun tour guides. Her homeroom seemed to all have a nice time. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to be there for Quinn and for her to want me to be there. 🥰
After a few weeks of my daughter fundraising for her school, she and the fifth graders participated in a fun-filled Boosterthon. There was music, inflatable archways, water stations and tons of children ready to burn off some energy for a good cause.
While there weren’t many parents in attendance, my husband and I were among the few who cheered as some kids zoomed, skipped or walked by. Quinn even came up and gave us both hugs and said that she was glad we came. I am too! 🥰 I’m also so grateful for family and friends who were kind and generous to support Quinn and her school.
I rushed from strength training, washed up and hurried to the local McDonald’s because this afternoon, I had a lunch date with someone extremely special to me, my sweet daughter Quinn. Her school has a lunch connection for parents to not only interact with their children but to get to know the teachers too.
While Quinn enjoyed her nuggets and fries, I enjoyed seeing the smile on her face and my fifth grader eagerly welcoming me to sit with her and her friends.
I wholeheartedly agree with the quote the school included on the invitation by Fredrick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.” I look forward to more opportunities to be there for Quinn offering support and love.
It’s that time of the year that both my daughter and I love…getting dressed up in costumes and doing a little trick or treating at the Franklin Institute. Quinn even got to bring her best friend along for the fun!
As the forecast for rain increased as the today approached, I hoped that our set day to go to the Philadelphia Zoo’s Halloween event wouldn’t be a total washout.
This has been a tradition for my ten year old daughter and me since she was one and her cousins since Pre-K and kindergarten age, and we all look forward to it, including the adults.
Thank goodness Quinn and her cousins were given almost two hours of rain free weather to trick or treat, see animals and enjoy each other’s company! 🤗🎃
“Why don’t we wear our matching outfits?” my ten year old asked. Tough she’s officially a tween and becoming her own person with each passing day, Quinn still enjoys being my mini me. This truly made my day! I love how my daughter adds so much color to my life. 🥰
With three weeks down and many more to go, my fifth grader is off to a great start, and I am so proud of her. Since kindergarten, Quinn has been the first in her class to earn an award at the first school assembly, and this school year’s no different. Starting a new school year, let alone a new school with new teachers, classmates and trying to make new friends can be difficult. I know it was for me, but Quinn is soaring high.
During back to school night, her teacher said that he’s very pleased with how well she’s doing and is looking forward to a great and exciting school year. I am too!
These are the years of growth and many changes, so something that put a smile on my face was getting most of the facts about my ten year old correct. I’m hoping that she continues to share her new experiences with me and knows that I’m there to support her.