http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/ A single lady in Nashville writing about relationships with friends, family and gentlemen callers. Lots of gardening metaphors. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:16:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-1036 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:34:00 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-1036 [...] I was my daughter’s age, I often wrote to a future child. I have read some of those parts to [...]

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-925 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:43:04 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-925 [...] the end of the driveway, a 1 a.m. viewing of Mars. It is exactly the right music while writing in a journal you’ll share only with your daughter when she arrives at such a [...]

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-915 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:59:20 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-915 Thank you, Susie. Most often I’ve been thinking about something for a while before I write it down. Sometimes someone will say something or something will happen that helps gel all those thoughts. In this case, it was a conversation with Becky after Lily’s first day.

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-914 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:56:28 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-914 Mom,
1. This, too, seems to be inherited. I’m listening from three rooms away to the evidence that would support it.
2. You were right about John, yes. He wasn’t in my fifth-grade class, though. Jeni Lind was the other Democrat kid.
3. I still have that brick, I think. It’s in my old bedroom at your house.
4. Yes, you should read my journal from THAT year. (Or not.)
5. I’m glad it skipped you.
6. I think I’ve made my closest friends during times of transition when I’ve been vulnerable, gained perspective, and been (as the Tamblyns would say) “particular” / choosy.
7. She is fabulous. Strong-willed and resolutely HER at any age.
8. And I, you.

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-913 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:36:32 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-913 Knight, you always seem to capture the moment and morph it into a complicated, intricate story of life! I’m thrilled you have Lily to watch and chronicle her life story!

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-912 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:27:50 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-912 Dearest Knight, I wish that I could write and express my thoughts and feelings as well as you. I’m much better at making lists:
1. You were in charge long before 5th grade -you were the director of many shows as a 5 year old (or younger) staring youself, your little brother, and whatever children were neighbors at the time
2. I can’t imagine me ever being successful at forcing you to like anyone – you’ve always been pretty independent about things like that. However, I was right about that particular boy (he’s still a pretty good person) and I believe that his parents were probably the ones who shared your parents polical views at the time.
3. I think that the year you had the fly funeral was the same year that you organized a detective agency to investigate a brick. It was also around that time that you organized the pie club.
4. I remember the first day of your 7th grade year – there was “no one in the entire mini-school” that you knew at all – and yet you ended up having a great year and making some wonderful friends because that’s what you do.
5. You still love to argue – that’s a family trait that skipped me (but no one else in the family).
6. You made some of your closest friends at the age Lily is now.
7. Your grandmother is 82.
8. I love you

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-911 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:29:45 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-911 Thank you, Kevin. You know what’s funny: every emotion is still so huge, we just get better at coping with them. I was with my grandmother in rural Alabama earlier this week. She is 83 and loves to argue. We all know better when to let her.

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-910 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:26:31 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-910 Kerri Furr, you too!

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-909 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:13:54 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-909 Knight, you are so great!

]]> http://knightstivender.com/2011/08/12/to-my-fifth-grader-from-my-fifth-grade-self/#comment-908 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:38:11 +0000 http://knightstivender.com/?p=1297#comment-908 Maybe this comments is because I’m watching the cutest two and half year old (ever) fight off sleep again, or because I’m up way to late, but Knight – this is an amazing picture into what you experienced.. what we all experienced… so awkward but every emotion was so HUGE at the time. Funny how we think we are sophisticated now, yet we are the same little kid in there. “I’m 12 years old and I love to argue.” That’s just priceless. Love that your daughter has the real you – then and now – to look up too Knight. She is one lucky girl.

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