Shh. Don't tell Emma I'm posting this. She doesn't like to be the center of attention.
She practically squirmed at the Student of the Month awards breakfast, where she was honored by her French teacher. "You don't like this, do you?" the teacher teased as she began her remarks.
Emma reminds the teacher of her middle daughter, who even as a baby would utter only the slightest "Unh, unh" if she needed something. In class Emma is self-sufficient -- trying to find solutions on her own before asking for help. She works hard. In a sea of different personalities, the teacher said, it is so nice to have a bit of calm. She appreciates Emma. She hopes she's meeting her needs.
I can relate. I am delighted that Emma got recognized at school, but I also listened to the teacher with a bit of sadness. She put into words the exact dynamic Emma fills in our home, too. Do I do enough to acknowledge this sweet daughter? Am I meeting her needs?
We call Emma our Quiet Wheel. Get it? The opposite of the squeaky wheel, and let me tell you, she follows a VERY squeaky wheel whose demands for name-brand oil exhaust us some days. That's not to mention the other noisy wheels spinning around here.
Throughout it all, Emma keeps turning. She is centered, with a steel-will axle at her core, and I love her more than I can say. "We could have 10 more of her," Jeff said. "Well," I answered, "maybe five." She is a teenager, you know.
Emma wrote this for her 9th grade English class.
Where I’m From
I
am from Salt Lake and Switzerland
From
my parents, my brothers, and my sister
From
sibling rivalries and jokes
I
am from a loud, busy, messy, crazy house
From
inside jokes and funny moments
I
am from gingerbread houses and extended family, from Kohler and Hatch.
I
am from bobby pins, from hairspray, and ballet shoes
From
fruit trees and sunflowers
From
scriptures and praying
I
am from brown hair and brown eyes
From
be nice and looks don’t matter
I
am from piano keys and learning how to play them
I
am from music and laughter and singing.
4 comments:
Hooray! A Jennifer blog post. I love your writing. And one about Emma, too. I saw all of those good qualities you mentioned when she was in my ballet class, and when she was Beehive president. She gets things done, and does them quietly, without fanfare, but WELL. I'm not surprised at all that she was student of the month. I'm just glad a teacher was perceptive enough to see Emma's genius. I would that every one of my students was exactly like Emma.
What a great poem. I love all the little details that make up her life. She is a beauty.
two in one day! Hooray! Emma was my shining preschool gal...has it been that long? YEA Emma! ps we are moving to fruit heights june 15th and it looks like my kids get bused to Morgan! WAHHOOO
That's awesome Emma! Hooray for you!! You are a beautiful dancer and person and I admire your calmness and humbleness! :) ~Golda
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