Mothers be good to your daughters...

My daughters and I, thus far, have really great relationships. As a single, working mom of two, I'm not sure I could ask for more.

I have noticed, as they get older, more interesting conversations and quirks. I love to document these things, if only on the blog, so that I can come back and remember...

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Rose, my 8 year old, gets embarrassed easily. She won't allow me to put pictures of her on my personal Facebook page without her approval. She has begun writing poems but gets completely worked up if you giggle at the sheer cuteness of them! She even begged me to throw away my Mother's Day poem!

Yet, she's feeling more comfortable about singing in front of people. She has an amazing voice. She has no problem showing off her beautiful artwork and creative comic strips.

She sat for an hour the other day and read a book of poems that I'd written. Maybe that will inspire her to let her creativity continue to shine forth without shame!

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Yesterday, Grace, my 5 year old, pulled me out into the backyard to show me her new "trick".

She whipped up into a handstand and landed on her feet in a full backbend.

What the?!?

"When did you learn to do that?!" I asked her.

"I don't know. I just tried it."

Um... time to put this girl in gymnastics like NOW!

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After hearing the Carrie Underwood song "Before He Cheats", my daughters asked me for the definition of "cheating". I explained that cheating meant that someone was secretly keeping another boyfriend or girlfriend. I was unprepared for the following questions:

Have you ever cheated on someone? How did they find out? Did you break up after that? Has some one ever cheated on you? How did you find out? Did you do all the stuff she says in the song.

I did admit to cheating. Thankfully they didn't ask for more details. I also admitted to being cheated on and showing my rage.

I also told them that that I came forth to confess my dishonesty to the other person. They both agreed, "Mommy, that's very good that you told the truth. I bet the other person is thankful that you did that."

Yeah, I hope so.

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Oh... little girls also mean GIRL DRAMA.

Rose came home last week upset because of a rumor she heard. Several girls who were her friends last year are now saying she's mean and they don't like her.

My poor baby is like me. She wants to be liked by everyone! And she usually is! Other kids want to be around her and her silly nature. Unfortunately, however, she does have a shy side. Her shyness, sadly, is frequently taken as snobbiness - something I've been warning her of for years.

She asked what I would do and I told her that I would approach the girls. Her eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"Ask them. Just go up and ask them if they said it."

"But Mommy, what if they say they don't like me?!"

"Well, then you'll know, right?"

I asked Grace what advice she would offer her big sister, "When you see them, go up and give them a BIG HUG! (pause) And if that doesn't work, go tell the teacher."

My baby girl...

The next day, Rose came to me with a happy spring in her step.

"Mommy, I solved my problem!" she began, "I went up to the girls but I brought my friend with me. I told them what I'd heard and they said it was true. They said they thought I was mean. I told them that *I* didn't think I was mean. And then they said, 'OK, we don't think so either! We'll be your friend!'"

She was thrilled.

Gosh... if only it were that easy in adulthood, right?

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My girls make me smile so much. I hope I'm raising good, honest and loving kids. So far, it seems, so good.