The Best Day.

Juliana just finished a project in her music class.  The students had to choose a song - any song - that represents themselves and their outlook on life.  Then they have to present it to the class along with 3 reasons why they chose that song.  


Juliana gave it quite a bit of thought and one night while I was cuddling her before bed she told me that she thought she would choose Taylor Swift's song called "The Best Day".  She said that Taylor Swift wrote the song about her and her mother and since we've had lots of our own 'best days' too then the song was kind of like the two of us.  

Later that night, I put on her CD so that Peter and I could listen to her choice and, no surprise, the song moved me to tears.

Tonight she was telling us about her presentation to the class and Peter asked her if she wanted to come and sing along while he played it on the guitar.  She definitely wanted him to play it but was a little bit hesitant to sing.  Juliana does NOT sing in public.

I heard him start to play and then remarkably she sang along. After the first time she asked if they could do it again and he could sing harmony. And then she let me join them both! 

It was one of those very special little moments that made us smile.  

As parents we all have moments, too many of them, where we question ourselves and hope against hope that, in the end, we will raise our kids well.  This project was a quiet reminder to me that although my little girl is growing up, I think that we're going to be okay.

I'm five years old, it's getting cold, I've got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you, I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
But I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today

I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop 'til I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
And Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm takin' this chance to say
That I had the best day with you today.