My teenage daughter is going to a party on Saturday - a big, quite formal, celebratory party full of teenage girls - and don't we know it! For weeks we've had blow by blow accounts of what's going to happen, who's going to wear what and more importantly "PLEASE can I have a new dress?' The answer of course was yes and preparations have begun ...
A few weeks ago I went to listen to my daughter and her friends sing at a concert at her school. A friend, who has a teenage son,was sitting nearby, turned and said to me "It must be so hard being the mother of a teenage girl" and I knew exactly what she meant. She didn't mean you're going to have lots of problems or have you heard all those horror stories - no, what she meant as we sat there looking at all those beautiful, confident and poised girls was - doesn't it make you feel old! And it does!
My daughter is now 4 inches taller than me and stands up so straight. She can kick her leg up above her shoulders and not wince just for starters. When she has friends around I am amazed at how beautiful and confident they all are. It's wonderful watching them, listening to them, looking at the things they've bought in town, discussing in the minutest detail a new pair of earrings or shade of eyeshadow.
But would I want to swap places with them. NO! For every ten minutes of hysterics, there's half an hour of crying. For every smile, there's always a scowl not far behind! Would I swap my lowly position in the pecking order for the phone, computer and TV in return for the piles of homework, dire projects and months of essays and revision ahead of her? Not to mention the boys - we're all in denial about the boys ... Not having to go through it all again myself means that you can see the funny side of it, however infuriating this may be for my daughter. I can stand back and watch it in all its longlegged gorgeousness!
So the dress has been bought - apple green sixties style (she calls it her Samantha from Bewitched dress) to be worn with bright red shoes and bag and my vintage jacket (I do still have my uses) - make up, hair and jewellery yet to be decided. Of course things could all change tomorrow and a whole new outift devised - 48 hours is a long time...
15 comments:
Yes, it is lovely to be young - but with age comes wisdom!!! Most of the time, anyway!
I hope your daughter has a wonderful time.
I've just been catching up with your previous posts - love your cat!
Clare x
OOh I have all of this to come! I can't wait. I hope that your lovely daughter has a wonderful time - apple green and cherry red - how fruity
Victoria x
Hi Kim
Ah yes, I remember it well! Enjoy it while you have the opportunity, because one day you'll blink and she'll be almost 33 and you really will wonder where the last decade or two went, and question where you were while those years were disappearing!!!!
Sue xx
Oh it all sounds so exciting! Like Victoria said, I have all of this to come! Even now my daughter (she is 6) will sneak a little lipgloss on her lips when we have to go out to a family function! Who'd have thought all the extra makeup we gave her to "play" with when she was 3 and 4 years old would become her "real" makeup at age 6! (By the way, she only "sneaks" out with pale lip gloss - I always make her wash the rest off!) heehee
You seem to have a really NEAT family! I have three boys and then one daughter who is just a year old, and such future thoughts just amaze me! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
So beautifully written! I know exactly how you feel - I have 3 teenage daughters.
I hope that your daughter has a wonderful time; the vintage jacket sounds like a great choice!
I worry about when my boys become teenagers, I would worry even more if they were girls- I do miss not being able to pass on my vinatge wear!Thanks for your comments, we really should meet up. Come to the open House!
I work with teenagers and have two of my own and I find them endlessly entertaining. You can start to see the adults that they will become which is wonderful. I love to see them developing their own style and it sounds as though your daughter is doing just fine!
My own daughter staggered home the other day with a box full of blue and white china that she had bought from a junk shop that was closing down. She had picked out really wonderful pieces and negotiated the price with the owner. I was so delighted that she had the knowledge and confidence to do this and will always treasure them. Then she went off to paint her nails bright pink...
Alice
48hrs....that's got to be at least half a dozen more outfits:-)
I have both male and female teenagers and it's all good fun - strange smells, inaudible grunts (the boys) and girlie hysterics, long legs, lip gloss and tears.
I love them all dearly and couldn't manage without them.
Alison x
This is a great post Kim. You sound like a great mum, especially as you bought your daughter a Bewitched dress. Could a girl ask for anything more??
Cherry xx
What a wonderful mom you are to grant the "new dress" wish. I remember how important those dances and events were.
As the Mother of a 14 year old I know how you feel, they're so gorgeous at that age, all long legs, giggles and attitude! But I wouldn't swap places...I like being forty something, it's a good place to be for me. Hope your daughter has a great party.
Gill
Such a cute story! Hey, it sure doesn't feel that long ago when I was picking out my dress for the party! Do you feel that way?? lol Heather
My 9 year old daughter is almost as tall as me, today she auditioned for her school play and was the only one to have learned the script, she can sing and read music and do so many things that I would never attempt. I find it all amazing.
If I were you I would steal those fantastic shoes and stuff the toes with tissue.
Hope that she has a great time,
J
x
I loved reading this Kim... you write so well and paint such beautiful scenes with your words.
I can just imagine the gaggle of girls and the excitement of the party to come. I wish I had a daughter too for sharing the feminine side of me.. I adore my son though and hopefully one day he will bring home a 'nice' girl to meet me...
Michelexx
Post a Comment