Mini-Muse Girl: 5 yr old A-

Featuring Plate-Blogger: my friend's daughter, 5 yr old A-

As the mother of 2 boys, I have a particular soft spot for the daughters of my women friends. These girls are a vicarious pleasure to be around, and I LOVE to hear about the adventures and crisis(es?) of raising girls, whether it’s fashion wars, slumber party drama, horse riding escapades, daddy-to-the-rescue-stories, teacher tales, or icky boy-troubles. And then there’s all the pink. As the mother of sons, I am not even allowed to pass through a pink aisle in the big box stores. Oh no-we will walk three aisles over to avoid this heresy.

So when 5 yr old A- decorated her Santa plate with her mom and wrote down her wishes-I was tickled silly! A baby that pees and eats! A Barbie Hotel! Yes, Yes, Yes!!! I wanted these too! I distinctly remember spending hours of every day playing mommy and house and when I wasn’t doing these things-I was making Barbie play mommy and house. I even bribed my younger brother and boy-neighbor to play Barbie with me too (even at that young age, a naked Barbie held great power!) My favorite Christmas present-to this day-was the Barbie penthouse-with elevator!!! What could be better?!? (Well, the red convertible Barbie car is a close second…) But one of my (untapped) adult passions is for houses/homes. I love to spend hours watching/reading/seeing homes of all kinds. Never met a house/home I didn’t like or couldn’t fantasize about how to make better. And it all started with owning Barbie realstate.

So as I looked at young A’s plate that clearly outlined her heart’s desires, I was reminded of the very real pressures of playing mommy and house that can be so overwhelming-as we grown-up girls are quite aware. But lil’ A’s dream plate was also a precious reminder to me about my own “inner-girl.” My grown-up girl life sometimes makes it really difficult for her to emerge. So this holiday season, I propose we re-connect to our inner-girl and remember that’s she’s alive and well (maybe buried under her adult persona)-but her dreams and passions have carried us to where we are today. That inner girl is the mother to many of our greatest joys and accomplishments. And I’m afraid she doesn’t always get the honor and attention she deserves…

So, my young friend A-, I hope ALL your wishes come true this year. I’m rooting for ya’! And thanks for taking me down girlhood memory lane. What a sweet gift!

And…um…maybe I can come over sometime soon to play Barbie?… just for a little while? … Let’s ask your mom!