Are You Gabby's Mom?

My goal to blog frequently is slipping.  Back to school = back to sports, lessons, school events, PTA...

But everywhere I go this past week it seems Gabby has been there first, and I never get tired of hearing from other people how amazing she is because I feel just as lucky as they do to know her.

Me with Gabby after her adoption

In fact, I'm starting to learn there are few people in our school, church, or neighborhood who don't know Gabby.  A few weeks ago I was talking to a neighbor who moved away a few years ago, and is now moving back into our neighborhood.  He commented on our new family member.  As we were talking, Gabby walked up to join us.  I started to introduce her and he said, "Oh, we've already met."   He then proceeded to tell me how she introduced herself one day when he was out working in his yard.

Megan used to be the family social butterfly, but I think she's been edged out of first place by Gabby.  I'm not kidding when I say there are neighbors that live on our street who I haven't met in the 7 years we've lived here (sad, I know), but who we've met since Gabby moved in.  People just love her, and she loves people.

Tonight was back to school night.  As I was walking down the hall someone stopped me to tell me "the cutest thing Gabby did the other day..."  Then someone else near us said (in an excited tone of voice like they were meeting the mom of someone famous), "Are you Gabby's mom?"  I think the conversation was ending before I introduced myself by something other than "Gabby's mom."

A few minutes later I walked into her classroom.  The individual student seats were decorated with paper plate heads made to look like our children, attached to their jackets.   Parents were supposed to find our child's desk.

 I must have looked a little lost because the teacher helped me.  "Who is your student?" she asked.


"I'm Gabby's mom," I said.  (I thought it best to skip right to introducing myself as Gabby's mom since everyone already knows her.)  I seriously thought she was going to hug me (and after all the good things we've heard about her from Gabby, I was ready to hug her too).  It also turns out we have friends in common with Gabby's teacher, and she had already heard all about the Jarmans (one of those moments you hope that's a good thing).  Right there in a room full of other parents we bonded over a mutual love of Gabby while the room full of parents listened in.

Her teacher later told me an amazing story of Gabby learning to count money, and just pushing through and not giving up.  She wanted so badly to understand and she wasn't afraid of not knowing.

Then as I was leaving the school, I stopped for a minute to talk with the principal.  This time the conversation started with Joie.  He wanted to know how she was doing at her new school.  Then the conversation shifted to Gabby.  He complimented her with words like amazing, motivated, and outgoing.  (If you're a parent you know that sometimes you aren't sure what you'll hear about your child when you're talking to the principal, so that was a very welcome end to my back-to-school night.)

Then at home one of the warmest gestures of all came from big brother, Jeran.  Jeran is earning his reading merit badge by helping Gabby with her reading, and when he was talking to me today about helping her, I asked him if he was going to keep helping her even after he earns his merit badge.  Without a hesitation he said, "Oh, for sure," and told me about helping her.  He was excited to tell me that tonight he explained Greek mythology to her so they could start reading the Percy Jackson series together.  He has been so excited about how well she is reading, and this morning during family scripture study she was beaming when the compliments came pouring in after she read her verses nearly all by herself.  Jeran notices her progress and feels good about contributing.  Megan and Joie also help Gabby with homework.  She's so eager to learn that it's rewarding for them to help her.

I'm reminds me a little of the idea that "it takes a village," and there is nothing better than the feeling of being surrounded by a village that just adores this amazing girl!

And yes, I am proud to say I am Gabby's mom.