Double Digits During Quarantine

Sophie turned ten today. Ten! Double digits! I keep looking at her and seeing myself at that age - the way she tilts her head when she’s thinking, the little smirk she gets when she thinks she’s being clever. Marcus caught me staring at her this morning and said ‘You’re making that face again.’ What face? The face of a mom who realizes her baby is becoming a whole person? Guilty as charged.

Double Digits During Quarantine

I organized a drive-by birthday parade because what else do you do during a pandemic when your kid turns double digits? Called all the neighbors, her friends’ families, even got Abuela Rosa to make the drive from Durham. Sophie pretended to be mortified when I told her the plan. ‘Mom, that’s so embarrassing.’ But when she saw the first car pull up with balloons and honking, her face lit up like Christmas morning.

My girl. Double digits.

Marcus spent the morning blowing up balloons and muttering about how our daughter is ‘growing up too fast’ and ‘starting to have opinions about everything.’ Welcome to raising a mini-me, babe. She asked if she could wear makeup for her birthday photos and I almost said yes before I remembered she’s still TEN. Baby steps, Sophie. Baby steps.

Ten years ago I had no idea what I was doing. Today? Still no idea what I’m doing, but at least now I know that’s normal. Happy birthday to my beautiful, stubborn, brilliant girl who’s going to rule the world someday. Marcus is already practicing his ‘yes ma’am’ for when that day comes.