Me All Over Again

"I gave birth to myself," my friend Kathy once told me. It was Easter, two years ago, and Kathy (a Sagittarian like me) has a daughter (who is also a Sagittarian) the same age as my daughter (who is also - guess what - a Sagittarius). But astrology aside, Kathy's profound statement applied to me in ways that just keep on coming.

My six-year-old daughter Zoe is a Greek replica of me. My husband is full Greek and Zoe inherited the olive skin, brown eyes that turned hazel, and long, thick black hair. Other than that, she's all me. Behavior, mannerisms, temperament, liberal arts preference, fondness of baseball, face, body type, wild hairs all too apparent. And ear, nose and throat issues, did I mention those? Zoe has had a lasting strep throat since January. Collectively, about 3-4 weeks of school missed. And a school nurse that tells me today "I don't know how this is plausible," when I ask her how little white spots can appear on the tonsils two days after the third round of antibiotics were finished.

When I was 11 years old, my tonsils were removed. My daughter is following my same medical - in addition to every other type of - pattern. Do you see where I am going with this?

I am watching myself grow up as Zoe gets older...this is has its ups and downs. Poor kid is strong and fearless (knock on wood), but has ear, nose and throat issues on her genetic forecast because she was born from me. But things that went wrong with me, I'm totally tipped off to and I intend to cut them off at the pass for my little girl. Because I am her mother I intend to be her advocate in every way, but because I am her original copy, I have a little insight.

And, as it were, hindsight. Seeing myself in her, so unextectedly full circle, I seem to like myself a whole lot more. 

Now wish me luck, I am going to bat for her with a jersey that says 'TONSILLECTOMY" against the opposing team, the insurance company.

If I'm anything like Zoe, I got some fight in me.

~ Samantha Gianulis

Comments

[Maureen Locher]

Not sure if I'm envious or jealous. Never really understood the difference. I think it is so cool that Zoe is so much like you, Sam. More and more lately I have been noticing moms with their daughters. Remember I have all boys who are really men by now, but I very rarely concede the fact. I wonder what it'd be like to have a little carbon copy running around? Hmmm... Good luck fighting the insurance company. I'm rooting for you. Get well Zoe.

Maureen Locher
Copy editor MWLM

[Kris]

Mother and daughter both Saggitarians? That must be challenging! I should talk...Scorpio and Leo...now that's a combo!