I’d forgotten how many forms kids bring home during the first day of school. Mini Me’s stack looks bigger than last year. The papers all ask for the same thing; they’re just different colors. Parents names. Contact information. Emergency contact information. Food allergies. Backup emergency contacts. I still don’t understand why the office can’t take one form I complete and copy it as needed. Or better yet, couldn’t this stuff be online?

Sorry, I digress.

One of the papers was for a violin program. Students who participate will take two weekly violin lessons during school hours, and there will be two evening concerts.

I have a soft spot for the violin. When I was in the fifth grade, I asked my parents if I could play. I convinced them to meet with the music teacher for details. The instrument expense, combined with their open disdain for extracurricular activities, kept my hopes at bay.

Not wanting to live vicariously through my kid, I asked Mini Me for her take.

“I’d like to try it,” she grinned.

I mentioned the program to Momma and said that I planned on letting Mini Me join.

“Sounds good,” she said.

Say what?

I reminded her I wanted to play violin. I told her how she and Daddy tag teamed me with a slew of reasons why violin lessons were a bad idea.

“Didn’t you want to play the xylophone?” she asked.

“No, the violin,” I said.  “Would you have let me play the xylophone?”

“Hmm. I don’t remember this at all, ” Momma said.

I am well aware of the fact that she didn’t answer the question.

The smallest moments from childhood affect how you parent. I wasn’t distraught about not playing violin, but I think of it whenever Mini Me wants to try something new. I remind myself that this is her time for exploration. Hubby and I want to expose her to a variety of experiences.

I’m not sure if Mini Me will take to the violin, but I do know this will make for a very noisy school year. Anybody know where I can get earplugs wholesale?

Today, Mini Me started her first day of the third grade. I can hardly believe time has gone by so quickly. I didn’t think I’d ever use the phrase “it seems like only yesterday,” but then I had kids.

When I held Mini Me in my arms for the first time, I peered into her tiny face and wondered what type of person she’d be. Time flew. She’s in her fourth year of elementary school, and now I know.

She’s awesome.

Mini Me is funny and creative. She has this MacGyver-esque sense that can repurpose just about anything into a work of art. Her love for pink and glitter knows no bounds. She loves to dance. If her favorite song comes on, Mini Me has no problem singing it loud enough (and I do mean loud) for everyone within earshot.

She’s also extremely tenderhearted. Her sympathy extends to mistreated pets, friends and family, and anyone she sees on TV. I make sure to avoid watching the news before bedtime because any story of hardship keeps her from sleep.

I remember the person I was in the third grade. Quiet. Reserved. Unsure. I had a small group of friends, and I preferred the back of the crowd, unless I was sitting in a classroom. Mini Me, so named for her physical resemblance to me, is willing to give new experiences a try. And, if you let her, she’ll often lead the way.

I want my daughter to embrace her creative, adventurous nature. As she navigates through life, she’ll experience things that further shape the woman she becomes. Some of these experiences will be wonderful, and others will, for lack of a better word, suck.

Here are a few things that I want to share with Mini Me this year to help her with the journey:

• Always be you, even when others don’t get it. This will be hard at times but worth it in the end.
• Don’t tease or put someone else down so you can fit in. Loving yourself doesn’t mean hating everyone else.
• Trust that little voice inside. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. And whenever your “spidey sense” goes off, it’s definitely wrong. Get out of that situation as fast as you can.
• Keep asking questions, even when it drives Daddy and me nuts. 
• Remember that we love you, and you can come to us about anything.