Our graduated daughter

I am so proud of Catherine.  Of all of my kids, she has always been the best student.  Honestly, she probably had the least natural talent, but her work ethic was top notch.

As I was putting together pictures for her graduation celebration, I noticed how so many times she was standing between her brothers, usually with her arms around them.  I know sometimes she is the one in the middle because she is the "middle child", but sometimes I know it is because she is often the "bridge".  The boys are 4-1/2 years apart, and she is the one in the middle that "bridges" the boys together...not only their ages but the personalities.  She is the one who wants to quickly take action to keep the peace (as long as she isn't the one melting down in the first place).  When we had so many rough years with Robert, she would so very often come to me and ask if I needed a hug.  During those years when I might mentally be wondering if I should've even been a parent, she always managed to let me know that she thought I was a wonderful parent and that she was grateful for me.  She is truly a caregiver.  She always has wanted to take care of her little brother, even if he didn't particularly want her to do so.  Her way with animals is second-to-none.  I can't even describe it.  Catherine is one of the most caring people I have ever met in my entire life.

Of course as her mom, I worry.  I worry about how easily (terrifyingly!) she can be influenced.  Sometimes I think she is a parrot as she repeats opinions she hears from Andrew and me.  I am terribly concerned about how naive she is about almost everything (at least that is what it seems).  She has never been one that has really been good about processing the world around her, and while I know I can't protect her forever, it causes me a great deal of stress and worry about her.

Catherine's attitude about this entire end-of-year situation has been fabulous.  My cousin had asked how she was doing, and I replied that she really had handled everything really well.  I think part of that is the fact that Andrew and I have remained calm about things, and again, she tends to "parrot" our responses.  Honestly though, our job as parents is to guide our children to see that life isn't always fair, and that it is mentally healthy to accept that and move on.  It is okay to be sad and to grieve, but it won't change anything and we can't get "stuck" in what has been lost.  She has had that exact attitude, and I'm so proud of her.  It truly struck my heart the other evening that she even commented that she was glad she was able to share the experience with us right there with her rather than sitting on the floor while we were in the stands.  I'm very grateful that she is grateful for us.

There are so many more things I could say about her smile and her goofiness.  I truly can't describe the joy she brings to our lives.  She is fabulous!