Soon to be 11-year-old Alora Treacy.
It is almost here. The big 1-1! My daughter is turning 11. Like most parents, I feel like some days it was just yesterday that I was sitting in the NICU, watching my tiny monster in a glowing blue box. Other days, I can’t even remember life without her. She’s always been a part of us.
While we approach the tween years semi-cautious of the teenage warnings of hormones, lash outs and, well, the utter breakdown of a beautiful baby girl into an enraged, crazed woman. It is terrifying stuff. But, so far so good. We’ve maintained a pretty open line of communication. We don’t fight, too often…
And we already have a teen in the house. Granted, he is a boy, and there has not been a single thing “the same” about raising these two. Regardless, he has been a breeze. I can’t say I’ve noticed much of any change, in the negative. Of course, he sleeps 12 to 20 hours, eats non-stop and has grown five shoe sizes in a single year. But, yeah, other than that pretty normal.
I think as a mother, the biggest fear I have is fighting the “mini me.” The only time my daughter and I do not see eye-to-eye is usually because we are the very same person. We both are night owls. We both sleep in. We love sleep.
We both love food. We like cooking, but mostly because we love eating. We both are fans of salty and savory foods. We love mindless television, like “Love It or List It” and home improvement channels. We love cooking shows, and trashy reality tv. We love horror flicks, and binge watching entire series on a lazy Sunday in our pajamas.
We are both very stubborn. We are both hard-headed. We are both “alpha” females, happiest being in charge and bossing. We approach group work in similar manners, as in we both hate it, want to take it over, and do it our own way.
She isn’t completely me, of course. She has a lot of her dad, too. She is a self-proclaimed “nerd,” and likes being called “weird.” She is in love with anime and comics. She is infatuated with super heroes and Star Wars. That is all completely her father.
We plan on spending her big 1-1 heading to Great Wolf Lodge. She loves swimming, and the water slides, and of course the exciting wand game, running through the halls with her big brother. I plan on soaking up what is left of my little baby girl. With every day, I see her more and more as a young woman. I see her developing into an amazing human. I see her less and less as a baby.
I watch old videos and photos on my Facebook memories. I almost forget how her tiny baby voice sounded. I forget that she was missing teeth, wore pigtails and fluffy dresses. We’re more into this forgot-to-shower, greasy hair, emo/black clothing phase now. I forgot she liked to sing and prance around ballet. Now, we mumble and mope more, refusing to show anyone our talents in a public way.
She has really gotten into reading and into art. She is an amazing drawer, creating her own comics and characters out of nowhere. I admire her creativity. She has a wonderful imagination.
I love her lightly freckled face, and the inherited awesome dimples she shows when she smiles. I love how brilliant she is. She does a wonderful job at school, and is so independent. She has a great sense of humor, both witty and sarcastic, which she also comes by naturally.
Thankfully, she will always be my baby girl. She may move out. She may move away. She may grow up into an adult, and then have babies of her own. But no matter how far she goes or old she gets, she will always be her momma’s baby girl.
I’m thankful she still gives me great big hugs. I’m glad she snuggles with me still, and wants to have “sleepovers” and cuddle. She’s so very rough and tough on the outside, and awesomely soft and compassionate on the inside. And, thus far, I’m glad she still lets me see that inside.
Yes, she is definitely changing. She is for sure becoming what will soon be a full-blown teen. Pray for us. Very much hoping that she continues to be open and honest with us. I hope we don’t grow apart or argue through the next decade. It worries me, but I’m hopeful she will always have that baby girl in there. I hope that she lets me in to see it. I hope we remain close, and that she knows I am always there for her, through thick and thin.
Until then, we shall celebrate the big eleven. I’ll drown my sorrows in frozen drinks at the adult hot tub, while my too-cool-for-mom teen and preteen run around Great Wolf.
See also:
Montco Mommy: Balancing Supervision
Montco Mommy: When We Grow Up ...
Montco Mommy: A Cruel Culinary Cycle
Montco Mommy: Post-Holiday Blues
Montco Mommy: Dealing with 'Mean' Girls
