Mia had a graduation party/bbq at her preschool last Friday and this week is her last week of school. True to her personality, she’s been very matter of fact about the whole end-of-school thing and has been talking very excitedly about the next phase in her life and the move up to “the big kids school”. But I’ve caught her in a few moments recently where she’s been quiet and suddenly saying that she’s sad that she won’t be going to her preschool any longer. As the end draws near, it must be hitting her that all of her 7 school friends will be scattered throughout various schools come Fall.
Unsurprisingly, I am more sad about this than she is, but I am a sap about these kinds of things. There are other changes too, some very positive, and others that leave me scratching my head. She’s really taken to her role as an older sister to Claudine, “reading” her books and showing her the ropes about going to the bathroom on the potty (not that it’s helped since I’m totally convinced that this child will never be potty trained). Mia’s also become very impressionable to other kids. You know, she used to always do her own thing and didn’t get swayed easily by what other kids were doing, but this is becoming less so as she gets older. I would be lying if I said that it didn’t bother me that she’s becoming a princess loving barbie fan. It was just never the kid I knew – the girl who used to just stand there totally uninterested as her friends would dress her up in princess gowns. But I remember what peer pressure and stuff is like, especially at an age where friendships grow so intense. So instead of secretly cringing that her friends are turning her into a girly-girl, I’ll just step aside and let her be whatever it is she is meant to be. Sniff.
It’s okay 🙂 Be strong she’ll be just fine 🙂
I have such mixed feelings about the princess thing. I liked Barbies when I was a kid but I was not a Disney Princess girl at all. I don’t have anything against the movies but I hate all the crap that comes with it. Of couse since my little girl loves the movies, everyone gives her the crap. She got three Disney princess barbies for her 3rd birthday and she doesn’t even have any girl friends. What can I do? It’s what she likes, you know? I guess it’s all about balance. She loves dressing up like a pirate as much as a princess and she loves The Dark Crystal and the Nightmare Before Christmas (I know – not your typical 3 yr old movies – long story) as much as Snow White. She says “Oh, cute!” when ever she sees a skull and her favorite book combines her two loves. It’s called Cinderella Skeleton. I think she’s going to be a goth. Right now she totally does her own thing and I’ll be sad if that changes. I am sure Mia will always be her own person. It is fun to watch them evolve even if you miss the stages they pass through. Sigh.
This was such an incredibly sweet post to read – I don’t have children yet, but I can only imagine that I’ll go through something similar as they move from one stage of childhood to the next. And it sounds like you’re raising a wonderful, independent little girl, so I wouldn’t worry too much!
seeing your beautiful family inspires me to eventually have children myself…
enjoy these moments!
I liked Barbie, and I ended up pretty non-girlie. So there’s plenty of time to balance. It’s probably a good thing that she’s paying more attention to peers, since that’s one of the functions of time at school.
It’s amazing how much she resembles her dad, more and more it seems from the pictures here.
Sorry about the potty. We’re not there yet, and frankly I’m not looking forward to it.
Awww. I second Fiona. I was all about princesses and barbies as a little kid and then went back to being a tomboy for the rest of my days. 🙂 How wonderful to watch your babies growing and evolving into the people they will eventually become (though hard, too, I’m sure!).
My daughter is just about finished kindergarten. I was also disappointed when she started liking princesses and went more girly-girl but it’s definitely not all she is about. It seems to be some creepy rite of passage for girls these days.
I was also convinced my 3 year old daughter would never be potty-trained and it was a pretty big source of stress for us for awhile. We eased off and it finally came together a few months ago.
It’s hard not to worry as a parent but it seems like your girls are doing just fine.
Oh Jenna, “So instead of secretly cringing that her friends are turning her into a girly-girl , I’ll just step aside and let her be whatever it is she is meant to be. Sniff.” is absolutely the most beautiful thought I think I’ve read on a blog in a really long time.