The Beginning of an Era

I wondered when this would happen. The motherly sheltering has been rendered ineffective and the daughter is stepping into the deep end, aka the land of American Girl. She has requested a trip to Chicago to go to the American Girl store to have lunch and shop. During the same conversation, Boy Wondertwin made a similar request...to go to Chicago to go to the Lego store. I informed him we have a Lego store in town and he seemed content with that.

I thought the idea of going to Chicago for the twins' birthday sounded intriguing but didn't think much of it until Girl Wondertwin mentioned the idea to my mom. Within seconds my mom had the trip planned, knowing exactly where we would stay and what we would do. Maybe I should send her and Wondertwin alone!

I'm expecting the Chicago birthday to become quite the extravaganza. If it wasn't so FREAKING cold in the Windy City in FEBRUARY, I'm sure the in-laws would insist on going as well.

All of this to say...I'm losing hold (aka influence) on my only daughter. She didn't know what American Girl was (nor what Chicago was for that matter!) til she started Kindergarten. Now she has us gallivanting all over the world for a doll and her little doggie. Hmm...

Someday I'll look back on this and laugh right? Little kids, little problems. Big kids, Big problems. That's what those "old and wise" moms tell me...usually when I'm in the grocery store with all 3 kids, one screaming at the top of their lungs while the other is pooping in his shoe...because at the time our problems feel so little. See Pooping In Shoe Post Here It really happened. I promise.

Not that this is a problem really but more of a symptom of a bigger issue. My little ones are growing up and I'm not their only influence any more. That's a good thing, right? I really do love hearing their stories from Kindergarten...who they like, who they painted with, what story they read in Library class. I love it. I just don't want them becoming independent individuals too fast...and I don't want them spending all my money at the American Girl store.