Re: Letter to 8 year old Azi

THANK YOU😍🥰

On Feb 13, 2021, at 10:10 PM, Gia Janks <giajanks@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Azi 

As always ….    I'm writing this slightly after your bday (I checked back with last years letter - below - and it was the same!! - sorry) 

Wow! Who know from 7 to 8 years ago would be fulled with so much turmoil and confusion in the world! I do wonder if you will remember this time period in your life! (Strangely, it was 2 months after Zaria turned 8 that ours lives changed dramatically and we moved to Malta - and Zaz does remember parts of that .. and she did seem older than you are now - buts tears probably because you will always be our youngest) 

Soon after your birthday party last year … Covid 'arrived' in Malta. By the end of March - the school had suddenly closed, you weren't allowed to meet with your friends (or play after school in the 3 trees in the parking lot - with your friends), you did online learning a few hours a day and the rest was you. Me, Zaz - in the flat in Pender for most pf the day! (We were all super thankful daily for Netlix, Internet and Dad's delicious cooking) … You had an online playdate once a week with your friends - which art first was strange, but then became something to look forward to, and you enjoyed it. You did online dance classes (which you didn't love, but participated). 

In this period, I got to see how very organised you were! You knew when to sign in for your classes, you completed the homework as soon as it needed to be done, your confidence in your work grew and you handled the whole transition and being at home pretty smoothly! 

Thankfully on weekends we would find a quiet beach to swim, or somewhere to walk or bike ride! You do love being outdoors and being with Dad and friends (when you can) … You love splashing in the sea or going on a good hike with tea and snacks. 

The Summer holidays bought more confusion. As we couldn't go to Australia, we didn't know if we should participate in Summer camps or not. You did a few weeks of the Sports camp - but when your 2 friends stopped going - you did too. 

Oh yes - we moved house. After 4 years off living in a flat, we moved to Carob Lane. You LOVED being outside in the common area with kids of all ages. Playing different games, the independence of going out by yourself, riding your big bike (Zaria's old bike) in the small area. You loved having friends over too play play mobile and laugh and laugh in the basement and swimming with zaz, your friends and dad (your swimming and ability to go under really improved) and the swimming lessons with Ms Kay helped your strokes a lot! 

And then September started and it was schools open (some, not all in Malta), but Verdala opened. Another big change - temperature checks, masks on. Sanitisers … and yet you handled it so well! You LOVE school (You did not love taking the bus to school - after you begged for 4 years to take it - only for a kid to vomit on day 2 and then you refusing to take it to school), but you do enjoy taking it home once or twice a week. 

You love playing tag and imaginary games after school with your friends (now outside the school grounds). 

You are doing so well at school. Participating eagerly in class, gaining confidence in numeracy and literacy and learning to tolerate a variety of personalities! 

You are reading at Level 10 and enjoy your chapter library books. You are organised and always have your bags packed for school and after school activities without me asking you. In the morning you wake up, lay out your clothes, get dressed and go downstairs to watch on your computer / play games on iPad. 

You still love pancakes, bananas, fish (Thursday we have to have grilled fish and chips), meat, potatoes, dads porridge, rice cakes, cheese, ice cream, bread, pasta … but I Must say, your snacking has reduced. Oh yes, you love red peppers and carrots and dads tea and mangoes. 

You have been able to join Zaz and I in chill out TV watching time .. 'Modern Family', 'This is us', "Firefly Lane' … you do tend to give a running commentary or comments on the outfits, dogs, characters or ask a million questions … but wow love you (You didn't like it in Forest Gump or 'Fried Green tomatoes' when somebody lost a limb) … but other than that - you like to watch with us 

You are improving in tennis and enjoying the running club on Friday afternoons. Enjoying your ballet, jazz and Spanish dance classes 

Oh - how could I forget - you do tend to get STUCK on something and ask for it over and over and over (tennis bag, soccer ball, soccer kit) ,… this year it was Roller Skates, And thankfully your friend Sienna and Lilly are enjoying teaching you! 

I know I say it yearly, but really, this age is SO adorable - please can we freeze time! You are cute (besides for picking your nails), spunky, funny, generous, loveable, concerned about others, friendly, talkative and just a JOY!!!! (Oh yes, Zaria has enjoyed hiding in your cupboards at night and frightening you before you go to sleep, which results in lots of laughter) 

And how could I forget the biggest change in your 7th year - the arrival of our third child - Jay! Who protects you FIERCELY and only has eyes for you when you around. (On hikes he will try catch up with you and he will wait for you all the time) … and how you love Jay and are happy now to pat other dogs!!! 

We love you Azi … holes in all your leggings, wearing the same 2 jumpers weekly, arguing about putting on warm clothing! We love you! 

Wishing you a year of health, happiness, friendships, learning, laughter (your giggles are adorable - Omar at school makes you laugh daily cause he loves your laugh), and more health! 

PS: You do still love cuddling in bed with us in the mornings … but now you need to compete with Jay sitting on your head! 

>> I have had this email in my head for AGES … I was supposed to write it on Azi's bday - but life got in the way! So here goes, better later than never … 
>> 
>> My darling Azi, 
>> 
>> WOW!!! You REALLY grew in your sixth year! Somehow you managed to get cuter, funnier, more independent, more opinionated and cleverer! Here are some of the millions of things I remember! 
>> 
>> - You love to wake up with a cuddle, you LOVE cuddling with dad and then its a run to the toilet and TV room and you start your eating journey - tea, banana, breakfast! Oh my - you do love your bananas! 
>> 
>> - Dad and I love the THUMP sound in the morning, followed by footsteps and a DIVE into the bed! Cuddles cuddles 
>> 
>> - You are still afraid of the dark, if its dark, you don't like to go to the bathroom or bedroom by yourself … and you will find a way to drag someone wit you … 
>> 
>> - You are really good at listening - If I say, 'pack your ballet clothes away' - you will do it all the time! And you DON'T like it when Zaria leaves a mess on the floor and you are very happy to Dob on her (true blue Australian) 
>> 
>> - You have an amazing ability to just listen listen listen and then all of a sudden you will start singing the song that Zaria has been singing / playing etc. 
>> 
>> - You don't like MUSHY food (curries etc) … but you love trying new non-mushy food … you do love mussels, prawns, anchovies, meat, cucumbers, CRACKERS, rice cakes, snacking, snacking, snacking 
>> 
>> - You have a great sense of humour - you come out with the funniest and wackiest comments 
>> 
>> - You often say (with great expression) … 'I thought so too…' 
>> 
>> - You are VERY opinionated … you will say, 'That kid at school is very weird because she wears her hat in a funny way and it doesn't even provide her any shade' 
>> 
>> - You have done so well at learning your letters and numbers, You like to know that you getting everything right and that keeping up. 
>> 
>> - You get very teary and cross if things don't go your way … like when we are 2 minutes late for school, you get 'sternly' spoken to for doing something wrong, you are overtired … 
>> 
>> - We went for her passport Photo today and Azi was very confused as to how she was NOT going to smile infrront of the camera because, 'I always smile when I see a camera, I can't help myself' 
>> 
>> - Azi is super social, she loves being with other kids, she loves playing and socialising and going to new clubs and trying new sports etc (yes, this is the same kid who STUCK to me or Granny Rona or Phil or Cassi for the first 3 years of her life and was scared of her own shadow) … 
>> 
>> - It give me such JOY to see you (Azi) running happy into school everyday and hopping happily out of school in the afternoons (again, the same child that I had to peel off my leg and onto Ms Susi's leg) 
>> 
>> - Azi can get STUCK / obsessed on certain things - like her play mobile for her bday/ soccer sign up / soccer shin pads and she will nag and nag and nag and nag - until I eventually have to put a stern voice and a time limit on it 
>> 
>> - Azi LOVES shopping, she loves purchasing clothes and yet, she tends to wear 1 thing repeatedly (to the extent that I can't get it washed fast enough - like her 1 particular pair of lycra leggings) … I wonder where she get this repeated wearing! 
>> 
>> - Azi does not like too wear Winter clothes! Its a constant negotiation in Winter! She will also watch carefully what Phil wears and copy him / argue with him … Azi just wants to wear shorts and t-shirts! (The most exciting part of her party, was that she could wear a t-shirt) 
>> 
>> - She definitely still has her temperamental moments … but they are much less! … and there are things that totally irritate her (like this one kid at school, mom talking with her mouth full of food, Mom saying 'huh', Zaz singing Hamilton consistently … 
>> 
>> - I have to say, Azi is definitely going to go into a career involving the body … she loves talking about the different private parts … 
>> 
>> They say when you work hard on something the rewards are so much greater … Azi - you were 'hard' work the first 3 year, but the rewards are so much greater now! Seeing you LOVE life and love your friends and family and grow healthy every day is the biggest blessing and joy to us! 
>> 
>> Wishing you an incredible 7th year!