Because I am her mother...that's why.

August 29, 2010

Dear Mrs. Allard, Mrs. Bossert & Mrs. Guscott –

I’ll be honest. When Addysen came home the other day and said, “Mom, you’ve got homework tonight,” I rolled my eyes and thought, “Are you kidding me? I’ve been filling out forms for two hours now. Can’t the school figure out how to streamline this process?” But then I read the letter.

Although my thoughts are still the same about figuring out a way to streamline the emergency form process, I was excited to have the opportunity to write about Addysen. She is amazing and I am truly blessed to be her mother.

As the oldest of 5 children (4 girls, one boy), Addysen is extremely responsible and dependable. She was my “go-to gal” all summer long when I needed a babysitter or help folding laundry.  She even packed four out of seven suitcases when we went on vacation a few weeks ago. Addysen is very helpful and very kind – even when her younger siblings drive her nuts. Despite what she might otherwise say, she is extremely close to her brother, Cannon, who is 16+ months younger than she.

Addysen is a great friend and very loyal. She takes her relationships with people seriously and is sensitive to the needs of others. She tries to be inclusive of a variety of people. As the Wilcox Student Body President last year, Addysen made it her goal to get to know as many people as possible. She is very outgoing and social.

A dedicated student, Addysen expects a lot of her academic performance – perhaps even having tendencies towards perfectionism at times. (She read and re-read one of the Harry Potter books for her summer reading book because she wanted to be sure to remember all the details.) Aside from her handwriting, which is often somewhat rushed and messy, Addysen usually completes assignments on time and presents them nicely. She usually manages her time very well and often strives to exceed the requirements when opportunities present themselves.

Addysen does not like math. If there is anything she struggles with academically – this would be the subject. She is a voracious reader and a good speller. She loves to write (received an award at the Young Author’s contest last year.) She is very creative and imaginative with her stories – often mixing in reality and fantasy.

As far as hobbies are concerned, Addysen has a variety. She loves to play soccer and has had several coaches request she try out for travel teams. (Due to our large family and many church, school and other commitments, however, the travel team schedules do not work for us.) She has developed an interest in volleyball over the past several months.

Addysen loves music and loves singing. It is my hope that someday soon we’ll be able to purchase a piano so that she can take lessons.  In the meantime, she gets her music from the likes of Justin Bieber, Miley Cirus and many of the other pop star icons today.

Addysen is a natural-born leader with a very strong sense of right and wrong. She is fun to be around and always participates and contributes (to the conversation, the project, offering assistance, etc.)

Despite how this letter might sound, Addysen isn’t perfect. (As her mother, I can say that, right?) She is an 11-year-old girl with normal likes and dislikes – fears and excitement starting middle school, hanging with friends, etc.  Her favorite color is blue, her birthday is in February and she doesn’t like peanut butter. Addysen wears mismatched socks, crazy-colored nail polish and earrings (in her relatively newly pierced ears.) She says she is jealous of her friends who have cell phones, gadgets like the i-pod touch and a seemingly endless supply of clothes from Justice. She might be jealous, but she takes the “we don’t do that in our family,” line rather well – most of the time.

Addysen’s determination can be both a blessing (like the decision to stop eating French fries several months ago) and a hindrance (like when she insists on having the last word.) Overall though, I think she is amazing.  She is the kind of student I would love to have in class if I were a teacher.

And she is definitely the kind of daughter I love having as a mother.

Sincerely,

Tacie Kerr

*PS – Addysen’s dad is a police officer and always more than willing to come and talk to the class if a need ever presents itself – career day, community helpers, etc.