Rites of Passage

It seems like yesterday that I had two babies at my feet. Today I look at my children and wonder where I went wrong -- I haven't managed to keep them from growing up.

Yes, I know. All children grow up. Girl child told me that last year about this time. (here) But that doesn't mean I don't long for the days when they would snuggle and offer kisses for no reason on their way to the toybox.

Boy child is off for a weekend of camping with his father and his boy scout troop this weekend. All I can say is "Thank God for indoor sleeping arrangements!" It's freezing here in the midwest. But even this trip is somewhat bittersweet. He wants to be indendent and go with "the boys" without having to take his dad along. But alas, he's still only 11 and until he's 12 he must have a 1:1 adult supervisor per scout rules. So we've dubbed this the last "little scout" campout. The next camping activity (in April) will give him a whole new opportunity to interact with his peers without a parent over his shoulder.

Girl child has her own adventure this weekend with having her first official girls only slumber party. No brothers. No cousins. No dad. No uncles or grandpas. Just girls. And she is excited. My usually bubbly and not so reserved with people daughter grew a sudden shy streak, however, and could not find the words to make her invitation by phone. (preface to say that we had cleared the event with the other mother involved and knew that the invite would be accepted -- because I don't think kids should be making arrangements without parents talking first at this age) My usually confident, boisterous daughter was uncertain. When we talked about it for a little bit, she did say she was afraid of being told "no" when she talked with her friend. We don't see this side of girl child often. Actually I've only seen this side of girl child once before and it was prior to her giving a public presentation. Ummm yeah, I get nervous too before public talks even though I talk to all kinds of people about all kinds of things day in and day out. The difference is most of my interactions are by phone or 1:1 and not to larger audiences. It's a good reminder to me, and perhaps to other parents reading here, that even the most confident child probably has some very normal insecure moments and we (I) need to be aware of those subtlities and possibilities. She wants us to believe she's grown up and mature beyond her near (gulp) 11 years but she really isn't. And that's just fine with momma.