I believe I came to some new understanding about what bothers me about people who complain about children. It is the fact that they understand children as stupid little adults who are bad at adulting but may some day be good at it, if they work hard. It’s like the Steinbeck quote about why Socialism won’t work in America:

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”

Children are not fully formed people imbued with the Grace of God, but rather temporarily embarassed adults who still poop their pants and cry when they don’t get milk quickly enough.

I do not believe that is the case. 

I believe Roby to be a fully fledged being of grace and dignity and beauty, a person well worth knowing and spending time with, even if we can’t discuss literature or politics or whatever other bullshit distraction me and other adults pass the time with. 

I will miss the her she is now when she’s different, I’ll miss today tomorrow, but that’ll be softened by the person I get to smile with in the morning.