Sisters & Daughters

When I was pregnant with Bethany, I had a conversation with my mom that has always stuck in my memory. I was telling her how I was hoping this baby would be a boy, since I already had a girl, and I had always wanted at least a boy and a girl. Of course, I included the requisite, "But of course, as long as the baby's healthy, it doesn't really matter if it's a boy or a girl"...but I really was hoping for a boy. And my mother said, "Everybody always thinks they want a boy and a girl, but really, for the kids, it's nicer if they're both girls or both boys." Well, I thought about that a little bit, and realized that she was right. I have two brothers...no sisters...and always felt like I missed out on something not having a sister (No offense, TJ and Steve)! My mother has such a great relationship with her sisters, and my dad's sisters are very close. And so, right then and there, I decided I wanted my second baby to be a girl...as if my wishing would make any difference!

When an ultrasound confirmed that my baby was indeed a girl, I was thrilled. I thought about how much fun it would be to call them "the girls", to dress them in matching outfits, to fix their hair...all those fun things. And it was wonderful. I loved having two girls...and I couldn't have asked for closer sisters. Bethany misses her sister terribly, but I'm so thankful for the time they had together.

And now, today, I'm so thankful that I have a daughter. On Monday of this week, we took a mother/daughter day. Bethany had a free day out of school coming to her...a reward for scoring well on the Benchmark last year...and she took it on Monday, which also happens to be my day off. She slept in (what good is a day out of school without sleeping in?) and then we went out for a yummy Mexican lunch in Hot Springs. After lunch, we went to a spa and had a massage...my Mother's Day present! I think the mother/daughter massage thing is going to have to become a Mother's Day tradition...it was soooo nice. We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping together.

One thing that really makes me sad about Hannah not being here is that we were just on the verge of a changing relationship...from mother/daughter to friend/friend. She would be 18 now, and about to graduate from high school. Of course, we would always be mother and daughter, but as she grew closer to adulthood, I believe our relationship would have evolved into an awesome friendship as well. Bethany and I are still in the mother/daughter stage, as evidenced by our time in the fitting room the other day. We still have the discussions about the shortness of her shorts and the appropriateness of her swimwear. But I look forward to the day when we will be friends, in addition to being mother and daughter. I can't think of anyone I'd rather have as my best friend!