Kamryn is 5 1/2 years old, finishing up her first “real” year of school and yet when I look at her, sometimes I see this very grown-up little person.  I watch her teach Rory simple arithmetic, sometimes including all of their fingers and toes on the really complex problems.  If he happens to guess the right answer, she praises him with a “Good job, Buddy!”  At times, her patience is infinite and her voice calm and soothing with the little 3 year old who idolizes and mimics her every move.

Kamryn reading books to Rory.

That version of Kamryn amazes me and leaves me in complete awe.  Luckily, that Kamryn is around about 95% of the time.  Those that know her, know she can be generally found with a big smile on her face.

The other day she told me, “I’m starting to be a mommy.  One, I drank a whole can of Sprite.  Two, I chew with my mouth closed.  And second, I take my own showers.”  (No, there isn’t a typo in that sentence, that is how she said it.)  She proceeded to tell me that now I only have to wash two people everyday…myself and Rory.

I have to admit that her stating that she was starting to be a mommy had me a little bit concerned because she does have a slight obsession with babies right now.  But after she explained herself, I understood what she was getting at.  I’m a mommy and although she is what identifies me as such, it’s what I do outside of being her mother that she associates as a mom privilege.  For example, every Wednesday night I go out with friends to sing Karaoke.  All of my friends are moms as well so Kamryn makes comments like “I wish I was a mom so I could go to Karaoke too.”

Karaoke makes me super happy.

I like that Kamryn thinks she has to be a mom to do some of the fun things that I do.  I know she’ll realize one day that isn’t the case, but it’s a nice reminder that my fun didn’t end once I had kids.  It’s a little different and possibly a bit tamer (except maybe on Hump Day Karaoke nights), but still fun.  And what Kamryn really doesn’t realize is that if I didn’t have her and Rory, I would be missing out on a lot more fun.  We’re going to Legoland today and if I didn’t have kids, I am pretty certain I wouldn’t be going to an amusement park on a Wednesday afternoon.

A picture from our last Legoland Adventure.