Dear Avery -- Boston Marathon 2013

Dear Avery,

Anyone who has met you knows that you are 4 1/2 going on 24. You may not be a superstar out on the soccer field, a natural-born gymnast or a brilliant artist, but let me tell you this girl, you have a heart of gold. You have an awareness, curiosity and understanding about the world around you that goes far beyond your years. Don’t get me wrong, you still hit your brother, throw tantrums and call me poopy mommy on occasion. But your constant passion and compassion for all the people in the world is truly an inspiration to me.

I acknowledge and respect the decision most parents have made to shelter their children from the horror in the news of the Boston Marathon bombing. Of course every parent wants to preserve the sweet innocence their child so rightfully deserves. Your brother knows and understands only the “appropriate” bits and pieces a 3-year-old is able to process. 

But you are a different child. You were born nosy. Things as big as this don’t get past you (even the tiniest of things don’t get past youl!!)

So you have asked and we have told you the truth (not all of it, but most), focusing as much as we can on the good that can come out of something so evil. I have sat with you  and watched you empathize with the families who have lost their loved ones. You have watched the coverage of the many victims who have lost their limbs. You have been touched and awed by their stories. None of this has scared you. It has inspired you.

This morning you came to me with one of your Barbies who had mysteriously (probably by Tyler) lost her right leg many many months ago. I had debated a few times here and there about throwing the broken toy away. But the missing leg never seemed to bother you, so I didn’t let it bother me either. 

Today my beautiful, innocent 4-year-old bounced down the stairs and asked me if I could help her make a prosthetic leg. You wanted your Barbie to be able to dance with all of her friends. 

So you got out your art supplies and we got to work. We made the most beautiful rainbow prosthetic leg anyone has ever seen.

I wasn’t planning on sharing this story. It’s obviously a touchy subject and I would never want to offend anyone who may disagree with our parenting approach or especially anyone suffering directly from this horrible tragedy.

But you wanted me to take pictures (and several videos) of your Barbie dancing on her new leg. You wanted me to share it with the world so that that lady on the news could see that she will be able to dance again some day too. 

I don’t know who you will grow up to be. But I can tell you this. You are going to make a difference in this world of ours. I am so very proud to be your mother -- "poopy mommy” moments and all.

Love,

Mommy