Catherine at 11

Dear Catherine,

This has been a big year for you.  Going from a being very introverted homeschooler to a public schooler who comes home every day with stories about crazy school antics has been a bit of whiplash. Actually, that's maybe a good word for most things right now with you. You're either super helpful Catherine, or absolutely zero help Catherine. Snuggly Catherine who wants to talk, or Catherine who literally hisses at me and locks herself in her room. You've always been like this, but you've upped your game lately. 

Thankfully, going to school has really been a good thing for you. I thought you might come home overwhelmed from all the time spent around people, but you seem to be thriving. The only thing that might kill you is homework, which drives me batty. You should not have an hour or more of homework every night in 5th grade. But you want to please your teachers, so you do everything you are supposed to do, every night. You enjoy being 'the good one' in your class and your teachers have told me how much they enjoy having you. But I still miss having you at home, even though I think our relationship is better now that I'm not both teacher AND mom. 

Your favorite class is band, hands down. You love your teacher and love the clarinet. Next on the list is math. Reading is still at the bottom, although you love getting 100% on all your spelling/vocabulary tests. 

You do not love Primary. Not at all. Actually, I think you enjoy the fact that Talia and Paul are always super excited to see you and beg you to sit by them. But the actual class? Nope. I hear all about your complaints every week. Just 10 more months until YW, and then you can complain about having me in there with you. 

Music is one of your gifts. You still love teaching yourself new things on the piano. You also worked super hard to master the clarinet in just a few days! Plus there's the kalimba, and also the ukulele that you initially said you hated but then just couldn't resist picking up and playing... 

You also have decided you love shopping, which baffles me. I hate shopping. Dad hates shopping. But you are always begging to be taken to Target. Dad took you to use your Christmas gift cards and you came home with a bunch of new clothes instead of the candy I expected! Guess you are growing up. But candy is still really important. Especially Hi-Chews, which your band teacher introduced you to. 

Stats at age 11 (actually from last October because that's when your visits are, oops): 4 ft. 11 in. (85%), 67 lbs (19%). 

Still Miss Independent. You want to do what you want to do, and heaven forbid we ask you to do something you don't want to do. Your biggest complaint about life in general is that we are always telling you to clean up because our house is always a mess. Says the girl whose floor is so covered with clothing that we can't even see the carpet... But your independence is a boon at school. I never have to tell you to do your homework or remind you to get things signed. You just do it. Which is good because I'm anti-homework in elementary school and would happily let you skip it. 

You'll go through phases where you're super into playing games. Aaron is your go-to game buddy. Your current favorite is the one you got for your birthday: Nidavellir. Many thanks to Uncle Stephen for introducing it to us!

Trying to crush the competition in Nidavellir

One of your favorite things to tell me is that Dad is going to be your favorite. That I'm going to be the one you get angry at. Honestly, it doesn't really bother me that much, probably because I think it's hilarious that you're planning this in advance. Also, I'm glad that you love your Dad so much. You go straight to him when you get home and do your math next to him while he works. You've also started playing basketball recently. Your favorite activity is going to the church on Friday evenings to play basketball with Dad. 

You are still very much an artist, although you've been drawing more fashion type drawings recently. You'll alternate between making me really cool black and white patterned hearts to hang by my bed and making a tiny origami box that says "MOM" with a super angry face next to it. Like I said, whiplash. This was a drawing you made during church one week:

That's me, surrounded by children making demands of me.

Scary accurate.

And also adorable. 

Yes, you are dealing with lots of big feelings right now. Yes, they occasionally boil over into rages and tears. But most of that is because you are just wanting to grow up faster. I see so many young adults just kind of floundering, not knowing who they are or what they want from life. That is not a struggle I see you having to face. And I'm grateful. Because I know you are going to great things and that Catherine all grown up is going to be here faster than I will ever be ready for. Happy birthday, my Catherine Cat. 

Catherine's 11 Year Old Birthday Interview:

• What's your favorite color?
• "Either teal or light purple."
• What's your favorite food?
• "The fruit and the red and we have them at winter... Pomegranate! For dessert, Timmy's rainbow cheesecake!"
• Who is your best friend?
• (Really, really long pause) "Emma."
• What's your favorite movie?
• "Guardians of the Galaxy 1."
• What's your favorite TV show?
• "Mandalorian."
• What is your favorite toy?
• "Paper. Origami paper."
• Favorite game to play, not on screens?
• "Hmm... Ah! Nidavellir!"
• Favorite game on screens?
• "No, not Smashy Roads. Yeah, Smashy Roads 2."
• Favorite snack?
• "Graham crackers and milk."
• Favorite animal?
• "A fox! Or a wolf. Or both. Because they're fluffy, and they're tiny, and they're long. And they have a big fluffy tail!!! I only like the white foxes though. The other ones are ugly. Heh."
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• "Nothing! (Not good enough). A teacher! Math teacher."
• Favorite song?
• "Hmm. It's been a while since I've listened to songs. Anything I can sing to."
• Favorite Primary song?
• "Pfff! No. I hate all of them. Okay, maybe not that one with the lilac tree. I don't know what it's called."
• Favorite book?
• "Alvin Ho."
• Favorite school subject?
• "Math."
• Favorite thing about your mom?
• "Your mom!! Umm, she cooks me things. And she cleans up my stuff."
• Favorite thing about your dad?
• "At the end can I do least favorite things? (Nope). Umm, he smells good."
• Anything else?
• "My least favorite thing about Mom & Dad... (is that we make you clean up your own stuff?) YES!!! (Shoots me with her headband). You're annoying."