Caution: parent shamelessly bragging about kid

As I think I have said in a former post, I try very hard to find things to be grateful for to try to
save my sanity(not sure that's working) and keep the old blues at bay. Today I must brag about
our kid. She is about to graduate the 4th grade and go on to an upper elementary school. It seems like not long ago at all that we were walking to her first day of kindergarten at this school.
It goes by so fast. Today, Olivia was chosen to be a special guest in the speech class to give the
speech students a chance to show what they learn there. The speech teacher came up to me
after school and told me she was a joy and she so loved having her there. This is the second time this year that teacher has complemented Olivia on her behavior with other kids and told me how much she likes her.
At her teacher conferences, they always tell us that Olivia is well-liked and a big help to other
kids. Her teacher this year actually told us that it amazes her that a 9 year old(10 now) and an only child at that is so caring and lacking the self centeredness that most kids that age
and only children especially have. She told us how ALL the boys in the 4th grade treat her like she is their sister as they are so comfortable with her(not always a good thing.) My sister told me after taking care of her for the bulk of
the 2 weeks we were gone for Tim's transplant that she loved being with her and playing mom.
She has no kids. She told me that Tim and I have definitely done something right with her. Not to get too morbid but she and her husband are childless by choice and she is the executor of our
wills and in charge of appointing someone to raise Olivia if something should happen to us. I never thought they would be interested and they told me that they don't care who we prefer, they're taking her! She is a cool kid. She is smart and was chosen this year to get a proclamation
from our mayor as one of the top 3 readers in her school. This girls just knocks us out. Thinking
back on all the times teachers in this school have complimented her just makes us bubble over
with pride. Being smart and good in sports is nice and all but raising a good person is so important to me. Today, and everyday, I thank God for blessing us with this easy-going,
adventurous, compassionate, smart, fun-loving and unbelievably cool little girl. There have
not been many times in my life that I have felt "lucky" but getting this kid was a like hitting
the lottery.