Saturday morning, I walked Larkspur into our parish activity hall to prepare for Confirmation with the rest of the candidates. When our youth minister, Leo, saw me he asked if I could help his assistant, Tatiana, get the kids in their robes. Glad to have a job to do, I headed into the classroom where the robes were hanging. I was handed a list of names, and I started calling kids in. I would ask the child their name, find them on the list, look for their size, grab the robe, and pull the zipper down a few inches. Next I would bunch it up from the bottom to the sleeves, and then help the child put his or her arms through and lift it over their heads and their clothes. About five kids in, I noticed that I was doing things a little differently than Tatiana. Once she found their names and sizes, she was just handing the kids their robes. Oh. It occurred to me that maybe Leo didn’t mean that he literally wanted me to help dress the kids. I realized that in that moment I was some sort of hybrid between Amelia Bedelia and a mom who has been helping kids get dressed for almost nineteen years. These kids were all around fourteen years old, and perhaps beyond needing quite so much assistance. Oh my goodness, I am laughing at myself right now. Just thinking about those teenage boys and me probably saying things like, “Lift up your arms!” Oh, man. Now I’m crying. Oh, Ginny. I did manage to rein my mothering instincts in and start handing the robes to the kids and letting them manage on their own. I had to help with a few zippers, but that was it.
Confirmation went smoothly and Larkspur had a great day. I took lots of photos and even had a couple of gifts ready for her. I often forget these important details! I bought her a kids’ devotional from Blessed is She that is really lovely and a (affiliate link) St. Kateri t-shirt as well.
We are in the midst of final rehearsals for Guys and Dolls, and Larkspur and Beatrix are getting ready for their upcoming children’s market. Beatrix asked me to teach her how to make goat’s milk soap, and she made a batch of lavender tea tree that she will sell at market. These May days are zooming by and I’m looking forward to a somewhat slower paced June.
p.s. Beatrix and her friend Istra dressed up to milk Greta the other day. I just thought I ought to explain that kids aren’t typically dressed in old-fashioned-ish clothing to milk the goat here. It does make for cute photos when they do, though!
Alicia P. says
HAHAHA! Amelia Bedelia, totally! ? I was literally laughing out loud at this [wipes tears]. I love you.
Rita Moeller says
Larkspur looks so much like the lady in the third photo! Same dimple, same smile. I think someday she may resemble her even more. They must be related?
Wonderful pictures of a very special day.
Lorrie Fulton says
Love that photo of Larkspur with her namesake flower.
s says
Your honesty is always so refreshing 🙂 What about the blue and white striped dress Larkspur is wearing? Super cute.
Theresa Dorsey says
Congratulations! Confirmation is such a beautiful sacrament.
The soap looked good enough to eat!! I was just about that same age when I started reading the Foxfire books. My dad loved them too!
Marilyn says
Congratulations Larkspur. Your dress is lovely. I love the photo of Beatrix feeding the goat. you have such a beautiful family. God Bless you and yours.
Mariyn
Joan says
Thank You Ginny for sharing your families special times. Congratulations Larkspur. You looked lovely.
Joan
Mrion says
Congratulations Larkspur. God bless you. i love the photo of Beatrix and Istra feeding a goat. Your daughters are beautiful.
Marion
Katharine Whitmore says
I bet those big kids were absolutely fine with being dressed by you, and happy to be so well cared for!
KAde says
Thank you so much, Ginny, for this post. I had been weeping but when I read it I laughed out loud. So funny! Loved Larkspur’s dress, so feminine – and the stripes are matched! How wonderful that you are teaching your daughter to make soap – I was wondering if the lavender ends up inside the soap or just stays on top? Loved the photo of Larkspur on the couch reading – could be a painting. God bless you and your family!
Brittany Austin says
I loved seeing the girls dressed up to milk the goat! So cute!
Danielle says
Oh Ginny, you bring so much joy to my inbox and my heart. Thank you for sharing glimpses of your beautiful life with us.
Rain says
I love it! And congrats to Larkspur! We also had a child make Confirmation this year as well as a First Communion child. The days are so full in good ways, yes?
Sue says
?So funny….
……ahh..your beautiful family!
Penelope says
Congratulations to Larkspur! 🙂
Gwen says
Ginny, I was laughing WITH you when I read about you handing out the robes. So funny…I’m still chuckling. Beautiful pictures. You really are an inspiration to all of us with everything you do.
Abigail says
Oh, that’s marvelous! I laughed aloud imagining this. At least you didn’t ask any of them if they had to go to the potty. 😉
I have nine children, and my 16 yr. old oldest still asks me to braid her hair each morning. I do, because these days are fleeting, but, yes, mothering instincts might be in overdrive at times.
Larkspur is a lovely young woman. Your photos of her seem to reflect a quiet strength and simple purity. May God keep her close as she grows yet more.
Kate says
Ha! My husband recently asked me if I could stop saying, “Go potty.” Our youngest is 12, after all.
Bindy in Australia says
What a beautiful photos! I love the one of the three girls all bunched together, laughing. Congratulations to Lark on her confirmation.
Also, I’m a high school teacher and I run around on school photo day adjusting collars and hitching things. (Students wear uniforms in Australia.) Kids often say “thanks mum”to me, with a fair bit of amusement.
Susanne says
This made me laugh out loud because, as a mom of 9, I can so relate. Too funny! =)
Love your blog! You’re an amazing Mom!
Blessings~
Bee says
Haha Ginny, I’m laughing so hard at your description of helping kids into their robes! I can just picture it! Hilarious.
Glad to hear Larkspur had a wonderful day. Also, I love the pictures of the girls milking Greta in those clothes…so evocative. Istra is a pretty name, by the way!
Melisa says
Was St. Kateri your daughter’s Confirmation saint, too? One of our daughters was just confirmed and chose St. Kateri as her saint. I like the tee shirt: I might have to order it for her. I ended up purchasing this book for my daughter’s gift: Go Bravely: Becoming the Woman You Were Created to Be by Emily Wilson. (I told her I might have to read it, too – it looks good.)
God bless you and yours!
Melisa
Laura M says
Emily is great and I’m sure her book is too