Superpower Number 1: Beauty
Here we go again. Yesterday, we spent the afternoon and evening having your senior photographs taken. I say “here we go again” but maybe I should have said “here I go again”. YOU have never been a senior before. YOU have never had your senior photos taken. YOU have yet to pull more pieces of my heart out as you prepare to leave my nest and head out into your future without me. But this is my third rodeo. For each of your older siblings, I wrote a collection of thoughts (blog posts? essays? letters?) throughout the moments of their senior years starting with their senior photos. Here I go again.
In some ways, this third go around is easier. Somehow, I’ve managed to send two of you out into the world; certainly, I’ll find the strength to send you. Somehow, I’ve made it through 2 similar collections of lasts, watching my parenting days slip out of my life like jewels dropping from the most beautiful necklace I ever hoped to own. After you, it will be more than halfway done.
You are so different from the older two. Honestly, you are all so very different. I once had a teacher at your high school tell me this was the sign of good parenting. He said we clearly gave you all room to grow into your unique selves, and I like to think that is true, though I am never quick to assign myself the role of “good parent.”
Still, you are objectively awesome. Really, you all are. I don’t think this is just my bias (I’m sure some of it is my bias). You are truly amazing. I sent previews of your senior photos to your grandparents this morning and Grandpa responded “Nice picture. Such a pretty and talented package all in one, topped off with a great personality. How can you not love this girl?” And Grandma responded “My sentiments exactly. I just said to him, she is so beautiful! She’s got it all!”
As I have known for a while that these milestones are upon us, I have been noodling for months on the question of what to call your blog series. For Grace, I wrote under the theme “Not crying” with the obvious subtext that of COURSE I was crying. I always cry. Like the grinch said, sometimes, my love just gets so big it leaks out of me. This happens a lot in your senior years. Case in point, when we came home last night, one of your sisters asked, “How many times did you cry, mom?” I told them I didn’t cry. They all smirked and said, “Uh huh. Sure.” (Of course I cried).
For Sam, I wrote under the more pragmatic theme “Before you go” and I tried to impart the “wisdom” I was concerned he hadn’t collected completely over the years. Obviously, I put “wisdom” in quotation marks. I’ve learned some things, but I’m pretty sure I’m still a long way from “wise”.
For you, I’ve decided on the theme “CC’s Superpowers.” CC because it’s your old nickname, standing for your initials Claire Cecilia. Superpowers, because I always tell you kids that you have superpowers, and they are all very different. I try to call them to your attention often, because you need to recognize and use them throughout your lives. Who better than your mom to point them out, and what better time to provide a list than in your final year of high school and in my home?
I’m sure I will get some flak from the other kids. They are all convinced that you are the favorite child. (It's not true. My favorite child is on the right in the photo below). Nevertheless, I’m certain I will be accused of only being able to name 25 superpowers for you. "Could you do it for me, mom?" they will ask. I could. I see the incredible talents and qualities and skills of all of my children. Like I said, you are all objectively awesome.
So, superpowers it is. Please note that these will be listed in no particular order. These pages will be written in the order of the experiences and, as superpowers reveal themselves slowly and sporadically, I can’t possibly prioritize them in any ranked order. Also note, that this list is in no way intended to be exhaustive. I’m absolutely certain that you have powers that will take years to come to full fruition and may not even emerge for decades as circumstances and life unfold for you. Perhaps you will be an incredible hostage negotiator or candidate for president. I doubt these skills will emerge during your senior year (though, believe me, my love, if they do, I will be in the front row cheering you on!). But I think it fairly unlikely that they will emerge in the coming year, so I will stay focused on the ones that do.
And about those chubby ears…For awhile, there was quite a bit more about you that was chubby. Of all our kids, you were the plumpest the longest. Honestly, you were big in every way, not just thick but long. You and Grace are just 4 years apart, but I was basically able to pass her clothes directly to you when she outgrew them. You just shot up and out by leaps and bounds every single year. Around middle school, I was no longer able to give you your big sister’s hand me downs because you were the same size, and then, for a few months in there, you were bigger. None of you girls were able to even attempt to wear the same first communion dress because Grace needed a size 10, Lucy needed a size 8, and you needed a size 12. At age 7 (note that sizing for children is roughly aligned to age and represents a reasonable proxy for how said child compares to average). You were just big—apple cheeked, full hipped, broad bellied—big. And it never bothered you one little bit. You remained the same cheerful, easygoing child you had been since infancy. You wore bigger clothes than your friends, so what? I don’t think it hurt that you have always been remarkably athletic. You may have been a little on the chubby side, but you were always picked first in gym class and asked to join so many travel teams for every imaginable sport that we got very used to saying no. In a culture that is especially hard on the heavy, you were a shining light for how to handle yourself—with total indifference and unabated joy in your body and your life.
Everyone is awkward in middle school, but somehow you sailed through it all with your sparkling smile and your strong body to emerge on the cusp of your senior year as the absolute beauty queen I watched posing prettily for pictures all of yesterday afternoon.
So, yes, Claire, beauty is certainly one of your superpowers. The weather and the lake showed off for us, sure. Your surroundings were spectacular. But we could have stuck you in a garbage dump or in front of a cement wall and you would have glowed. The event itself was almost comically smooth. Perfect weather, the sun poking out as if on the photographer’s cue, your clothes, your hair, your makeup, all perfect. Things just tend to work out for you, as your beauty would seem to indicate.
I suppose most superheroes have some kind of catch phrase. Some cheeky little sign off that they always say at the end of an episode or comic book. Perhaps I will end your posts with a reminder from one of your old favorites. (Spider-Man was the theme of your fourth birthday party). “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Beauty as a superpower almost surely requires this warning. You may be as indifferent and unaware of your beauty as you were of your chubbiness as a child, but I promise you the world is not. Use it wisely and well, and glow on my beautiful girl. The world is ready for your greatness.
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