It is official, my baby girl is no longer a baby girl. Wahhhhhhhh! I could cry and laugh all at the same time. She has discovered that she likes boys, AND that boys like her. She will be 12 years old in just about a month.
Wow, 12 years ago seems like yesterday. I can still hear my Uncle Don as he came through the hospital door singing "They call the wind Mariah" in his beautiful voice. I tell this story all the time, but it was also bring your daughter to work day. The delivery nurse brought her 12 year old daughter to work to view Mariah's birth that day. What do you say when your legs are in stirrups and that pushing feeling is coming over you and the nurse nonchalantly says "You don't mind if my daughter watches you give birth do you?" Why yes I just might if I could concentrate on what you are saying while all my private parts hang out here for the viewing!!!!!
So a few of Mariah's friends have had a BOYFRIEND for whatever that word means at age 12. A boy that likes a girl I guess. I thought my tomboy would be the one who didn't like boys for a long time. She is the girl that wears all her brothers hand me downs like they are the best name brand clothing you can find. Teachers and her coaches have actually asked me if she ever removes the sweatshirt in the picture above. The only time you will catch this girl in a dress is for a very special occasion, Christmas, Easter, Father daughter dance. Other than that she is in clothing that she can run and jump faster and better than any boy, you just ask her.
Last week a boy she wasn't sure if she liked said the words to her. Mariah I like you! She was really surprised, she thought he might like her but she didn't know for sure. My little thinker didn't know what to say. She was speechless for that moment and then got all shy. She came home to tell me about it and that she thought she liked him to. I talked to her about how you should be nice to everyone even if you don't like the boy in the same way. You never know how you will feel about him later in life, and you never want anyone to feel badly about their feelings they have. It is a big compliment that a boy likes you and even bigger when a lot of the boys in your class like you. We had the discussion that she is 12 and cannot have a boyfriend. I have told her many times the same thing. He is a boy and your friend that you like a little more than the other boys. But that is it! No BOYFRIENDS for her for a long time. She sat and thought about it for a week on what she was going to say to this poor little boy who had poured his heart out to her.
Finally last night she got up the nerve at the skating party and told him she likes him too. It was so cute. She came right over to tell me that she had finally done it. All her friends at the party knew and the news spread like wild fire. I saw the boys mom whom I am on a friendly basis with and wondered if she knew the news flying around. I didn't say anything because of course this will pass on by as quickly as it has started. I remember this age and the quickness the likeness wears off.
Sad to see the last of the younger years leaving and the pre-teen years beginning. Lord give me strength to make it through this one. I think I am going to need it. I am afraid I might actually have to hide her away, the boys are chasing her already and we haven't made it to puberty yet. The idea of a convent is not such a bad thing some days. Or that all girls school.....
