There is no big story behind this picture. It just means a lot to me. Teri, who loves all animals, was talking to my parents’ dog who appeared to be listening to her. Teri was wearing a hand-knit sweater my mother made for her and a pony tail I made for her. She looked so sweet and trusting at that age as all children do.

Teri was my first child, and I was what you would call a little over protective. The first time out of the house, when she was 3 months old, we went to visit my former boss. It was May, and I had her wrapped in sweaters, hat, hooded blanket and more. My boss was horrified and began peeling everything off of her. When he was done, we found a red, sweaty little baby! I finally let up, but she continued to be red-faced and sweaty as she always played so hard outside. She isn’t red and sweaty anymore which is a really good thing.

Teri was very bright and spoke at a young age. I had sung to her as I rocked her from the time she was born, so we spent a lot of time singing and rocking! She learned the songs, and I have a recording we made when she was 22 months old singing several of them. There was “Bye Lo My Baby” – several verses, “Mary Had A Little Lamb” – several verses, “Go Tell Aunt Rodie” – several verses and “This Old Man.” I think she was getting tired in the last song as she sang only one verse. She was probably too hot and sweaty.

As she grew up, she was very active and inventive. Once when she was in high school, we went on a family vacation for a few days. Apparently, Teri gave our house key to her girlfriends who partied there in our absence. I didn’t find out until she told me a couple of years ago, and was I ever pissed! But she was too big and too old to spank – so what’s a mother to do?

I asked her recently if I had ever explained sex to her, thinking that if I hadn’t, it was probably high time I did. She said, “Sure you did – we went up the street to Dunkin Donuts and you did it there.” I have no idea what I said that day, but I think the Dunkin Donut experience prepared her for high school, college and whatever came after. I felt I had done my duty in preparing her for adulthood. I don’t know if we ever talked about managing money, finding a career, cooking and things of that nature. In retrospect, I may have short-changed her by concentrating on the sex issue. But I think she turned out very well anyway. She has always been very independent and has known how to go after what she wants. I admire her so much for the woman she has become.