Has anyone experienced this with their own preteens? My DD is 12. After her last day of camp she let it slip to a neighbor child-who let it slip to her brother-who then "snitched" to me 
that she'd kissed a boy at camp. She covered her face with a pillow when I asked her if it was true. She wouldn't verbally answer, however she did give me the thumbs up sign to say "yes." LOL!
She of course was both mortified and secretly pleased to have the news out in the open
. It was her first kiss!! The boy is an adorable, round faced, curly haired 12 year old. I met him on parents day.Apparently it happened while two of her friends kept a look out and the counselors were listening to CD's. It was just a quick smooch-pretty sweet really. There is next to no chance she'll have contact with the little Romeo again- till next summer at least.
I told her I thought it was great that she'd had her first kiss
I followed with a little motherly advise about making sure she saved her hugs and kisses for boys she truly cared about and who cared about her. We talked about the importance of respect and that although it's o.k with me that she'd kissed this boy this timeI'd prefere it if she waited till she was a bit older before experimenting again. Anyway, this conversation led into the general topic of growing up and how things are changing for her. How she is letting go of some of her childhood beliefs and interests (Santa, Easter Bunny, Barbies etc.) and developing new ones.
Before I knew it a loving conversation peppered with giggles took a bitter-sweet turn. She ended up sobbing in my lap for quite a while crying that she didn't want to grow up.
: I had to hold my own tears back. For the rest of the evening she was weepy and shaky. The following day was quiet but for the past couple of days she's regressed in her behavior . Tattling, watching cartoons for little kids, playing babyish roleplay games with her younger brother and her toys. It seems obvious she's grasping at the last straws of early childhood. I'm not sure how to help her or if I should just wait this out. any advise?
:
that she'd kissed a boy at camp. She covered her face with a pillow when I asked her if it was true. She wouldn't verbally answer, however she did give me the thumbs up sign to say "yes." LOL!She of course was both mortified and secretly pleased to have the news out in the open
. It was her first kiss!! The boy is an adorable, round faced, curly haired 12 year old. I met him on parents day.Apparently it happened while two of her friends kept a look out and the counselors were listening to CD's. It was just a quick smooch-pretty sweet really. There is next to no chance she'll have contact with the little Romeo again- till next summer at least.I told her I thought it was great that she'd had her first kiss
I followed with a little motherly advise about making sure she saved her hugs and kisses for boys she truly cared about and who cared about her. We talked about the importance of respect and that although it's o.k with me that she'd kissed this boy this timeI'd prefere it if she waited till she was a bit older before experimenting again. Anyway, this conversation led into the general topic of growing up and how things are changing for her. How she is letting go of some of her childhood beliefs and interests (Santa, Easter Bunny, Barbies etc.) and developing new ones.Before I knew it a loving conversation peppered with giggles took a bitter-sweet turn. She ended up sobbing in my lap for quite a while crying that she didn't want to grow up.
: I had to hold my own tears back. For the rest of the evening she was weepy and shaky. The following day was quiet but for the past couple of days she's regressed in her behavior . Tattling, watching cartoons for little kids, playing babyish roleplay games with her younger brother and her toys. It seems obvious she's grasping at the last straws of early childhood. I'm not sure how to help her or if I should just wait this out. any advise?:
: . Ya know the eye rolling, hand on hip and heavy sighing attitude when ever I ask her to do something or try to tell her something. But then this evening she wanted to be cuddly and whiny and very little kidish. Ahh, well.... At least know I know this isn't unual. I was so worried about her. It's difficult to watch her struggle with her growing pains. It also makes me scared for the teen years to come! LOL!
