Monday, October 13 - Tuesday, October 14

Over the past week or so, both girls have shown me that their ideas about themselves and our family are emerging and crystalizing. I love these glimpses of how their identities are taking shape. 

We were in the car last week, on our way to school, and Lucia was expressing frustration that a runner on her team was dropping time dramatically while Lucia can't seem to beat her own PR. I pointed out that this girl's parents are both professional-level runners, and said genetics is helping her (along with, of course, all the hard work of training). "Sadly, you have only Daddy's genetics to help you with your running," I said. "My genetics are working against you when it comes to athletics."

Lucia nodded, agreeing. "Your genetics make me organize a box of buttons by color into an egg carton," she said. This is so absolutely correct. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Also last week, I was decorating for Halloween when Greta appeared, watching me unwrap my prized ceramic ghost, which my kindergarten teacher, Sr. Bridget, gave me forty-four years ago. "It's not Halloween until I bring out this ghost," I said, as I say every single year. "Look at it," I instructed Greta. "It's the perfect ghost."

Greta obediently admired it and watched me cradle the ghost and then place it carefully on the mantle. "If anyone ever asks me what our family is like," she said mildly, "I'm going to just show them that ghost." I laughed with glee and appreciation. Yes! This ghost is exactly what our family is like! A relentless focus on traditions, the prizing--no, the veneration--of small things that wouldn't survive a year let alone nearly half a century in other people's homes. This is us. 

The kids get it.