Since I'm home . . .

. . .I might as well get caught up on some journaling.

I'm supposed to be at the Elementary right now, watching Brynlie get an award, but she came home sick. Poor girl has a bad headache. It's so bad that she was sobbing in front of the other kids at school. That's very strange for my shy daughter, so I know she's in some serious pain.

Lindsey has been coughing and wheezing nonstop for the past 24 hours. I started breathing treatments and the inhaler with her, but we may be in for a long week. She has asthma, so the slightest cold gets her lungs all angry.

As I drove Brynlie to dance last night, it was only me and her in the car. It's a rare treat to only have one child with me at a time. Brynlie must have decided to take advantage of this, because she said, "When I was little, I didn't think much about the Santa magic. But now I'm older and I just don't understand how it could work. What do you think, Mom?" This is the kind of question that I always turn back on the child by saying, "Well, what do YOU think?" Brynlie talked about some explanations she's read in books, but then said, "I just don't think any of those are right. Will you explain it to me?" It was time. So we had a little chat, and upon finishing I asked, "Are you disappointed or does it feel good to know a grown-up secret?" She answered, "Both" with a smile on her face. At the end of the conversation she said, "I figured that's what it was. But thanks for telling me." I made sure to emphasis that I was letting her in on the secret because I wanted her to know the difference between fun stories, and REAL life. We talked about how Jesus is a REAL person, who REALLY did wonderful things, and REALLY has the priesthood power, which can work like MAGIC.

So, I feel like my girl is all grown up now. But then I remember that there are many more "grown-up" talks I still have to have with her. When Ryan found out I'd had the talk with Brynlie, he actually started crying. I guess we both have a hard time letting our kids grow up.