glimpses of the adult you see your child growing into

[meemee]

share with me your tender moments as your child grows up. i want to hear your stories about your feelings - sadness or proud or anticipation or whatever as you watch your child mature. 

watching dd is really bittersweet for me. she is my only. before now i have always mostly missed the baby. and i still do. but i will say now i look forward to seeing what's coming next as i catch glimpses of the girl she is growing into.

she will almost be 9 soon and will go back to school soon. she has BO and wears a training bra and size 7 shoes. we share the same size in flipflops. she even fits into 'my slimmer days' clothes. she braids her own hair and sometimes fixes mine too. i no longer have to take care of her in the morning. sometimes she takes care of 'me' making me bfast instead. many times i am her sous chef. 

now and again i catch glimpses of the young woman she is turning into. 3rd grade has been a v. hard time for her with friends. the girls have been catty -(she has had no problems with the boys and they are still pals - not so much at school but more at home) her own close friends have gone thru their own thing - leading to a lot of 'play and relationship management'. there was sooo many social dynamics on the playing frield. who she would play with and who that would upset. one particular girl she had love hate relationship since first grade. i was waiting for them to be friends again but unfortunately that girl N is moving to a new school.

yesterday she was comparing the 'meanness' factor in all her friends. she appreciated the plus points of all her friends from school - even N's - inspite of their 'other' badness.

she is standing up and speaking up much more. mostly to her friends, not yet to her dad. yet she appreciates his effort - that even if he doesnt succeed she appreciates he tries. they just had a great vacation together and i notice ex is no longer just treating her as a child. 

she now happily takes lunch from home consisting of HER favourite things even though the other kids make fun of her 'healthy' lunch. 

i notice all the things i want her to be - even if she isnt at home - she is all that outside the home. at other's houses she clears her plate without being told. she helps with the dishes. she even helps with the chopping and cooking. not only is she super polite, she is extremely helpful too.

i am so proud of her. 

gosh its soo moving to see her grow up. my super intense HNs explosive child is confidently growing up to the be the person she wants to be. 

thanks for letting me share. IRL i dont really have anyone to share with without it sounding gloating.

so share your moving moments with me. 

[ElliesMomma]

nice!! i'm excited that my 5 yo DD may be all of that in just 4 years!

[Cavy]

DD is nearly 10yo and I think she is starting to get hints of... curves!

DS1 is nearly 12yo and is starting to have an adult sense of humour.  We were in a hotel room together and he was arguing to do something (stay up late, swing from the curtains like a rabid chimp?)  Anyway, I was holding the many times repeated line "NO YOU MAY NOT" whilst he was reading aloud from the hotel brochure, our dialogue went like a bit this:

Me: "NO YOU MAY NOT xYz, and if you do you'll pay for it and I won't be responsible"

Him: "Our venues are five star and include...why can't I xYZ?"

Me: "NO YOU MAY NOT xYz, and if you do you'll pay for it and I won't be responsible"

Him: "We want your stay to be as pleasant as possible.  Please ask us about...why can't I xYZ?"

Me: "NO YOU MAY NOT xYz, and if you do you'll pay for it and I won't be responsible"

Him: "...our elite services for wedding and funeral parties"

Me: Pause.  "NO YOU MAY NOT have a wedding and YOU MAY NOT have a funeral, and if you do you'll pay for it and I won't be responsible"

We both fell about in hysterics. :)

[Imakcerka]

My husband and I spend a lot time trying to figure out who they will become. Our little one has the wit... not necessarily the brains. And the oldest one is super smart and so slow to the draw. We love it. One is earthy and the other is sparkles. I really enjoy just watching them change and I adore listening to their day. Especially the little one. We're her captivated audience... the tails she spins are hilarious. I always end all her stories with "look me in the eyes when you lie to me" and she usually falls out laughing. The oldest one loves music and can sit for hours listening to anything and everything.

Right now I really can't see them seriously grown up. I really don't want to either.