You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

When I first met Tess, she was bald.

However, I knew her long before I met her.  My first inkling of her existence arrived in southern Spain at the local pharmacy.  It turns out Tess and I had hitchhiked to Spain together from the Netherlands.  I was on my way around the world.  But, although I did weigh the option of giving birth in Kenya, my smaller, rational side won out and we retreated back to the USA.

Despite her lack of hair for the first TWO YEARS of her life, Tess enjoyed a pleasant childhood surrounded by lots of adults and few children.  This helped her mature more quickly than the average rugrat, I think.  We lived on the campus of UNC-CH while I went to grad school.  She helped me alphabetize and grade papers as part of my TA duties for undergraduate classes before she went to kindergarten.  From this early career she spawned a love of clerical work.  She retains that love to this day.  Need a desk or file drawer organized?  She’s your girl!  (No wait… she’s MY girl.  Never mind.)

We were like 2 peas in a pod for the first 7 years of her life.  We traveled a lot…  Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Europe, the Bahamas, a pioneer road trip to Laura Ingalls Wilder sites around the US (she’s still featured prominently on www.ingallshomestead.com).  When we were at home, she joined Girl Scouts, the swim team, soccer (aka dandelion gardening), and was the only member of her 1^st grade class who could read well enough to narrate the class play. 

We were busy.  But, we were happy.

Then we met the other half of our family.  Tess acquired a dad and an older brother in one fell swoop.  We sealed the deal when she was 8 years old.  And, Tess, being Tess, went with the flow.  Always easy-going, and slightly devious.  She discovered early on how much fun it could be to get your brother in trouble.  Good sibling fun.

A few years later she became the middle child when her baby sister joined the family.  Tess was a wonderful older sister/babysitter/buddy.  She still is actually. The girls have always been very close.  The age difference may have tempted Tess to behave more like a second mother on occasion.  Luckily, her early maturing process seems to have stalled and she’s too ridiculous to be mistaken for her sister’s motherly role model.

Tess has always been pretty easy to please.  She doesn’t have a lot of material needs.  I trained her to prefer vanilla so I could have all the chocolate if we bought a neopolitan carton of ice cream.  She’s always been able to entertain herself or play well with others, whichever the circumstances required.  She enjoys the path of least resistance, but is not afraid to cause some resistance when warranted.  She was raised with the ability to be independent, yet willing and able to love and be loved.  She cherishes good friends and family.  But, I have no doubt she can take care of herself when she needs to.

Case in point:  Today she graduates from the University of Alaska-Anchorage with a BS in Nursing.  She’s paid her own way through school working 2, sometimes 3, jobs at a time.  She is preparing to move from Alaska to Virginia where she will take her certifying exam and embark on her career as an RN.

You hear about “empty nest” syndrome when your kids leave home.  (I know our nest is still occupied by one more chick.)  But, I don’t feel sad that Tess is entering the world and leaving home.  Instead, I am excited for her to begin her life’s adventure!  I look forward to following her growth as a nurse, and as a content adult leading a life still unfolding.  I have complete confidence that she will be okay. 

As long as I live, Tess will always be my baby.  Little, bald, and beautiful.  She molded me as I was molding her.  Together we became who we are today.  She taught me how to put the needs of someone else before my own.  And she taught me how wonderful that could feel. 

My wish for Tess on this special day is that she keeps her heart and her mind open to the world of opportunity in front of her.  Even blindsides that seem to derail your well-laid plans can turn into something more beautiful than you could have ever dreamed for yourself.  Be ready… and enjoy the ride!

Love,

Mom