I can tell I am really going to love this stage I am at
with my daughter. I can feel it in my bones. Man is having a girl fun.
Last night she had 10 friends over for a pool party. “the
girls” (4 Bff’s with my sitter afterschool ) and then the others joined in at
6:30-8:30pm when I came home. All the Moms kept comment how "brave" I was to do
this… but truly a piece of cake for me. Give me this anyday over cooking a roast or
scrubbing some old toys with a sponge.
And they were all just so lovely, and polite, and nice,
and smart and funny and outgoing. What a great group.
Very different than our boy pool parties in the past: "Stop running and wrestling!" "Sshhh!!"
We have this party year after year so I get to see them
grow and mature. This year in all their little bikinis (vs the one pieces they
mostly all wore last year) I was happy to see the self confidence in their
figures growing. Even the girls who are not total skinny minies like the bunch
of them- in these bikinis- and so proud of their bodies. I love this.
And their confidence, and assertiveness and personalities
were truly adorable and sweet. The kept daring ecahother to do things that
included saying embarrassing things to my husband and I. Was truly funny.
And I love seeing my daughter flourish. I am so happy
where she has landed in her friendships. A natural strong leader since kindergarten, yet she has toned it down a bit and now
although still a big leader seems to share the role more effectively with the
other stronger personality girls. She has a lot of friends and is super fun. I
love seeing her with her friends-she is so creative and full of fun ideas.
I would
have wanted to be her friend in 5th grade that is certain. The girl
never has a dull moment and is full of dances and popsicles and games and jokes
and glamour and glitz and drama and laughter. Their new game yesterday was
playing Mafia!!!! Whatever the hell
that entails!!
What I really love about my daughter is she attracts friends like
bees to flowers. And she doesn’t take the social drama seriously. A great
combination. She just is who she is….and goes about life.
This stage full of bikinis, boys, girl conversations and
practical jokes is right up my alley. All the girls even came and gave me big
hugs when they left and some kisses on both cheeks saying “we had such a great
time! It was so much fun-thanks so much for inviting us!” Awww…..
What I selfishly love about my kids life right now that
it is fun for me. Total fun. I like the food they eat, the movies they watch,
the clothes they wear and the things they talk about. I have enough smarts not
to become a friend and keep my healthy distance, but enough spirit in me to
join them often in their developing ways and be there for them in a cool mom
way.(I hope!)
I think it is important at this age to fit in a bit as a
parent but keep the authority and wisdom too (aka explaining to girls that “no
79 lbs is not fat just because all the others weight 73 lbs-and that that is
the craziest notion I have ever heard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”)
I hope it all stays this way. I made them each tell us on
the video I made that they promise to stay as sweet and wonderful as they are
today.
Hmmm.let’s see about that eh?
