She's 9.

Warning: may be "too much information" for any of you unfamiliar with pubescent girls.
I had the best day shopping today - Black Friday - with Serena and Zeke. It was a full day, but really special. My little girl is growing up and I think she needed some time with someone who's already "been there, done that" - her mom. We picked out her first bra along with some pretty panties to match. We went to the fitting room to make sure it fit, and I soon realized the challenge it was going to be as I waited outside the room. She asked me to come in, because she couldn't get the straps fastened in the back. She was trying to fasten them before putting them on, and I chuckled as I watched her do acrobatics just trying to get her arms through. I told her she was going to have to figure it out, because I wasn't going to help her every morning to get dressed. I "walked her through" it verbally and even demonstrated by lifting the back of my shirt and showing how "easy" it is. Then I left her alone again, and waited outside the room. About 5 minutes later, she proudly announced that she got it. So that was #1 "grow up" purchase. #2 purchase happened today too. Maxi pads. She has just started her period - and is going through the ropes of learning all that's involved with that. Poor girl, she has had a few emotional mornings and I've spent a fair amount of time telling her that God made that part of "us girls" lives, etc. So today was a great time of sharing info and stories and about things to expect. (Plus many trips to the bathroom through the day.) She is young for that to be happening already, but it's not unusual for girls from 3rd world countries. (apparently once they come and get the proper nutrients, they mature quickly.) Unfortunately she doesn't have any peers there yet, hasn't had the school talk yet and knows nothing except what I've told her. Tonight she caught Stu off guard because he thought he already put all the kids to bed, and she comes out of the bathroom again with a smug look on her face. When he was wondering what she was doing still up, she says in a prissy voice, "something's happening to me - something I can't tell you - especially not in front of Kira." He puts his arm around her and says, "don't worry honey, I know all about girls!" She says, "ummm - you do?!" So - whether I'm ready or not - I'm a mother of a preteen - and the funny thing is, it does something to me - I feel the need to sit up straighter, and be an example - because now I have not just a young daughter - I have a comrade. It's kind of fun!
Some things are easier to teach than others. Being it's time for Christmas shopping, there are the bell ringers and others with need out there. Now that I am most often with my kids, I think about what I do in response to those people, or in this case, DON'T do. Their eyes are always watching. I've passed those in need many times, but today, I tried to make a point to be more giving. Even the guy with the sign at the corner got my attention - my mind couldn't rid of the nagging feeling that here I was with a excursion with the back loaded with groceries, and goodies, and my Christian music was on real loud and the windows were lowered because of the beautiful day... so gave into my heart, and I had Serena jump out and give him the gift card that I just got for spending so much at Target. She loved doing it, but it pinches a little when it's her little cache. Although I had bought her goodies through the day (all clearance items~good deals!), she was still determined to spend her $2.52 on something. She had only that much because she puts most of her money in the bank. I'm very proud of how well she saves. The thing she doesn't realize is that you can't buy a $10 toy with $2.52. She sure oogled over the stuff she couldn't afford - and everywhere she went, she would ask me if she could find something in the store to buy. What a challenge - I managed to find a few options, but no - not what she had in mind, and she would spend time looking over the more expensive stuff. Finally, after we passed another bell ringer, I suggested that maybe since she had already gotten quite a few treats that day, maybe she could give her money to the needy. My heart swelled with thanksgiving, when she eagerly grabbed her purse to give to the next bell ringer we came to. I waited probably 5 minutes for her to get it out and zip everything up again. I expressed to her how proud of her I was, and that that man has given up his warm home and whatever else he'd rather do, to ring that bell out in the cold to help others, and it was wonderful that she gave what she had to the cause. When we got into our last store, she asked again what she could spend her money on. "Didn't you give it to that Salvation Army man?", I asked. She said - yeah, but I still have $2.50. So! After all that - the guy got 2 pennies. Much deflated, the hunt began again. After finally picking out something that would use up the money, she decided she didn't like the idea of not having any change, so we had to find something that would only take one of her dollars. We spotted some gum, and in front of the cashier, I (impatiently by now), had to explain that .97 was going to use up her whole dollar - because of taxes. She noticed that there was some other gum that cost only .96 - and couldn't understand that it still would pretty much use of her whole dollar. Grrr. She did decide on the .96 gum, and the quest was finally over. I beat down my negative feelings about how I wish she was more generous, etc., and recognize that I need to celebrate the growth that is already happening. Some of the other kind of "growing up" takes our whole lives.
She turns 10 in a couple weeks - and though I've only had her for 2 1/2 years, I love having the beautiful girl for my daughter and truly enjoy watching her mature.