I Can See Clearly Now, The Rain Is Gone

We are nearing the half-way mark of Summer.  It's been busy. Mostly with doctors appointments and car repairs.  But, it's still better than juggling this along with working.  Things are changing.  Summer does that.  Kids grow, stretch taller, step further out into this world.  One thing I've noticed over the years, is that Ruby tends to have growth spurts during these months.  I attribute it to the longer hours of sleeping in, combined with all the vitamins from the sun.  Not sure if that's a proven scientific fact or just my own hypothesis. 

 A few days ago I took her in for an eye appointment.  She had been complaining about blurry vision for awhile, and even though she'd only been diagnosed with astigmatism in the past, I figured I should have her checked out.  I was amazed at the change in her vision over the course of 2 years.  Although the doctor reassured me that it was in fact quite normal for a child's vision to change so rapidly, I immediately felt upset that it wasn't caught earlier on.  That's what parents do, I suppose.  I felt foolish tearing up, as I watched her try to read those little letters.  I found myself (in my own head) trying to will the letters to her somehow.  As I watched the letters grow larger and she still wasn't able to read them, I began to panic. 

Luckily, the eye doctor had enough foresight (no pun intended) to explain to me that Ruby would indeed (even without glasses) still pass a driving test. That what looked to be gigantical letters to me, actually appeared much smaller in the reflection she was reading.  Oh, and yeah, she had one eye covered while she was trying to read them! Whew, way to go Dr. Marsh! You talked this mama off yet another proverbial bridge.

Sometimes parenting brings out the biggest fool in me.  Oh my goodness how I second guess everything.  I remember a few years ago when I tried to explain my feelings of angst to another person.  I was giving away some of Ruby's baby clothes and asked if I wasn't the only one who felt melancholy in doing so.  I mean, wasn't that just the saddest thing she ever heard?  She looked at me as though  I were crazy. 

Okay, so back to the eye doctor visit.  Things weren't going very smoothly to begin with.  Ruby was not thrilled that she would in fact need to have glasses.  She was even less thrilled trying to pick them out.  Again I reached out in commiseration to the gal who *helps* with the selection.  I said something along the lines of, "I bet a lot of kids are sad when they have to wear glasses, huh?"  Her prompt reply?  "No, most kids are very excited!"  Thanks lady, you've been a great help.  Excuse me while my daughter stonewalls me a bit longer.

We did finally settle on some cute frames.  They should be ready in a few weeks.  Just in time for Back to School.  Ruby told me today, in all of her 9 year old toughness, that she wouldn't be wearing them.  That she looks ugly.  I heard my own mother's words coming from my mouth.  "Yes young lady, you will be wearing them and you will look cute as a bug in a rug!" But, I get it.  Change is hard.  Growing up is hard.  And sometimes, your mom wishes she could wear your glasses for you.