My Bailey

All you Twihard fans will understand this reference. You know how Bella had her Jacob and Sam's Jacob? I know Bailey as My Bailey, but I have seen her alter ego, and it's usually completely different. I have trememdous respect for how Bailey has adapted to a child of divorced parents. I know it hasn't been easy, and it the decisions only get harder as she gets older. From the day we met, we established some ground rules. No name calling, put downs, or fighting. We say please and thank you while treating each other with respect. Always. Apparently, this is not the case in every household. It took a while for both girls to get used to the new rules. Every other Friday was a struggle to get out of old habits. The girls were so used to calling each other names and fighting, it was second nature. Shae stopped coming over as much soon after a meltdown about her cell phone at around 12. I think it was harder for Shae to adapt to the new rules since she had lived longer in a household with a bad marraige. She had also developed a very warped idea of who her father really was. Bailey, the peacemaker and 5 years younger, still came faithfully every weekend.

Bailey had been what I call the mini girl version of her father. She was always thinking about or doing something. When she was younger, I thought she was going to be the next Disney star. She could sing The Killers Mr. Brightside to a bar full of people without thinking twice. She wanted to do well in school even though her confidence to do so was not strong. This is My Bailey. Energetic, fearless, and ambitious. After two months of being separated from her, she came for the summer as her alter ego. I know she is a tween now and the separation from her dad has been difficult, but I didn't expect to lose My Bailey in just a few short months. My biggest fear is that she will altogether lose the loving, energetic, unique personality I have grown to love over the last 6 years.