She’s a year away from being a teenager, basking in her final year as a pre-teen.
But she’s got a maturity to her that supersedes her calendar years.
My 4 of 8.
Having been my latest talker because of her hearing loss, 4 of 8 has been my earliest bloomer. She is tall, tall and her poise makes most folks think she is far older.
Gulp.
Raising two special needs kids, there is such an emotional component to my perception of their growth. To some degree, I want to slow 4 of 8 down a bit, give her a little more time before she has to enter a world that may not always be kind about her hearing loss, give her a little more buffer before she has to deal with the impatience and attitude of some folks.
But, of course, she’s already had to deal with some of those issues.
I fret that because she looks so much older, people’s expectations of her are going to be unfairly too high. I fret that her mature face will cause her to have to deal with older boys, gossipy girls.
Although 3 of 8 considers himself her self-appointed bouncer. He is extremely protective of his pretty little sister.
But I have to back up, take a breath. From the time she was tiny, she has had to deal with frustrations and challenges far beyond the average bear.
And she has also experienced tremendous accomplishment beyond the common experiences of her peers.
Which has all served to make her older and more mature than her years.
Because of her ears.
And because of what’s between her ears, her compassionate mind.
And because of her heart.
Thank goodness she still has braces…
That helps disrupt the older teen/ young twenty-something visage a bit.
But there is a maturity and a seasoning and a wisdom in this face that braces can’t hide.
What a sage, my 4 of 8.
We have a similar dilemma. With my oldest already being a teenager, people expect her to behave a certain way. Add on the fact that she, too, is mature looking, you get a lethal combination. Unfortunately, she is social stunted due to her Asperger's, leaving other teenage girls wondering why she still likes playing with video games, etc. Then there is the thought of boys as well. I worry because I can't always be around and all sorts of thoughts run through my mind knowing that she still has the mind of an elementary school child in many areas. What's a mom to do? Pray and keep a shotgun in the closet.
Beautiful is exactly what she is, and if you are lucky enough to know her it doesn't take eyes to see that. Give her a hug from me today!
She's gorgeous as a child and young adult. It's an amazing time in her life. My oldest is 12 1/2 (but a younger looking boy), I see the shadow of manhood over him and just hold my breath sometimes. I'm sure #4 will continue to grow up well and wise, like her sisters and mom role model for her.
I haven't seen as much of 4 of 8 in the past couple of years, so I was surprised at how beautiful and (yes, older) she has become. I always worry about the older boys/men talking to Hannah, too. Braces. They ARE a good thing! Tell her to smile often when in mixed company! Those big, toothy smiles that really show off the braces.