At eleven, Clare has one foot in the kid world and one foot in the tween world. When her friends talk about crushes, she rolls her eyes. She wants to wear mascara, but doesn't brush her hair. She watches TV shows that star teenagers (Lizzie Maguire), but still likes Octonauts. For her birthday, she wants a cell phone, but wants Legoes nearly as much. She wants to be in on the adult conversations at gatherings, but she'll still play dolls with her cousins or on her own. She also doesn't want elementary school to end, which it will at the end of this week.
So it is a bittersweet time for my Clare, who is as much herself as she always has been. For example, she recently gave a very detailed presentation about why our family should adopt a cat. She did a PowerPoint. My favorite slide included a direct quote from me. Here is what it says in her notes from the presentation:
"Two years ago during distance learning, Mom said, 'When the Humane Society opens we can get a cat.' The Humane Society has been open for about a year and a half. We have conducted presentations before, but we still have not gotten a cat."
Well. I do remember saying lots of things during distance learning that I maybe shouldn't have. So we'll probably have to get a cat. Moving on.
Clare is currently very busy with soccer, which she now plays year round. She likes it, but also likes to complain about it. She plays the piano very well. She is a Girl Scout. And she still loves to read. She reads a few books a week most weeks. She is a good student and works hard at school. She enjoys board games, swimming, Roblox, and hanging out with friends. She is looking forward to attending a sleep-away girl scout camp this summer. (She is still braver than I have ever been.)
I know I've written this before, but it remains true. Clare wants to be a lawyer when she grows up and she is oh so good at arguing. She will remember everything you've said word for word and won't let you forget it. And she certainly knows how to push my buttons, although we've been in a good place lately.
She is supremely confident. At Halloween, we were across the street from our house when we saw a group of teenagers emptying our candy bowl despite our friendly "take one" sign. Well, Clare sprinted across the street to confront them, and they all sheepishly put some of the candy back. I hope she hangs on to her amazing sense of self in the years to come. Her brain works very much like her father's. Logic rules the day. They are both part Vulcan, I think. She doesn't like to hug most people, but luckily for me she still likes to snuggle with me. I'll take every hug I can get.
Middle School will start in the fall, without Clare's BFF Natalie. They are going to different schools, but hopefully can stay in touch. Luckily, her good friends Luisa, Kaia and Benjamin are all going with her to middle school. (Along with about 30 other kids she knows. It is a popular school among her current classmates.)
Clare's other BFF Amelia is still on her soccer team, and she came with us last weekend to celebrate Clare's birthday with rides at the Mall of America. (The girls loved it. Christopher had mixed feelings. I hate that place.) (Clare very sweetly included Christopher in all of the plans, even though the two of them don't always get along. On the Log Chute ride, I saw Clare hugging Christopher when they came down because he was scared. I like to think that despite their seemingly constant bickering, they'll always have each other's backs.) Amelia slept over. We had Clare's family party on Sunday with pizza and ice cream pie. This afternoon she will open presents and then it's off to a soccer game. And yes, she is getting both legoes and a cell phone (with so many parental controls on it all she can do is basically text and call, but still.).
Happy 11th birthday to Clare, my favorite girl in the world!
