The Other Way

Little Queen Now 21, Still Queen

Mar 18

Becca MartinUncategorized 2 Comments

The Little Queen posed with Mom before prom last spring.

Over the years, readers have come to know my daughter Amanda as “The Little Queen” and have taken her into their hearts, homes and prayers.
Now that she’s 21 and almost as tall as I am, “little” might not be completely accurate, but “queen” certainly still applies. As her stepmother said recently, “Now that she’s adjusted to me being here, she often looks at me like, ‘All these people, and the service is still terrible!’”
The Little Queen has made a lot of adjustments in the past year. Finishing high school and starting a sheltered workshop would have been enough. So would acquiring a stepmother and new family. She got both at the same time.
It hasn’t all been wine and roses — although whine and ruckus might be fair. But she’s doing beautifully, thank you.
Among the most amazing changes in the last year is Amanda’s increased patience — with situations where she’s bored, people around her who just don’t get it, requests not immediately met. In the old days, she’d sense weakness — like Mom not feeling well — and go for broke. Now she pats me sympathetically. It’s very cute and very touching.
She’s also gotten amazingly good at making her desires known, even without language. You can say a lot with a pointy finger! Her Granny Martin and I marvel that we forget she’s not talking. We simply understand — and when we get it right, we’re both rewarded with big hugs and (still slightly toothy) kisses. Trust me that that makes any tough moments worthwhile.
Don’t get me wrong. Those moments happen. For about three months, she cried clear across town when I took her back to Dan’s. It was awful — not a statement on life at Dan’s, certainly, but a protest against change.
Now, we sing. Everything is fine there: She has a teenage sister to watch “I Carly” with, a wonderful stepmom to make sure she has everything she needs and an extended family to entertain her.
Everything is fine at my house, too. She has her own room, and we have our own routine — which often includes popcorn shrimp at Red Lobster. Because a queen deserves good service!