mirror messages

The other day I came into the bathroom and glanced at the mirror to find this:

"Dear Mom
Don't forget
to rite a note
every morning
PS I don't love
you mom. Dear
dad have a good
day."

Ella

And, I paused...to smile, to sigh about another dirty, smudgy mirror, to stop and think about what I might write back, and finally, to think back to all of our back and forth messages this summer.

I've always kept a dry erase marker in the cabinet. It's a perfect way to wish a happy birthday, say merry Christmas or commemorate a special day right on the mirror where someone will discover it first thing in the morning and then run to tell everyone else. But, somehow this summer we've used it as something even better--our very own mirror messages. I've been known to mirror message with gushing on just how much I love them one day and the very next threaten a swirly, or worse, to the next person who forgets to flush the toilet.

But, on this day, with a reminder from my most lovable Ella, who uses every chance to tell me just how much she doesn't love me, I paused even a bit more, to catch my breath. Where did I get these kids who can read, and write notes without a pause on their end. It's suddenly like they always knew how to do this. 9 years old. 7 years old. ......and I just know the "Cl Cl Cl Cl" that is repetitively written in wobbly letters from my four year old will quickly turn to rainbows and hearts and then turn to the same I don't love you-- so cut the gushy stuff.

May the notes never end--whether they are gushy or not.