I have to brag a little bit. Because my 12 year old daughter is so wonderful, so kind, and so generous and loving, that sometimes I wonder that I had a hand in raising her.
She is just a good person.
When she was about 8, we got a whiff of what we thought were the pre-teen years, with the eye rolling, the whatevers, but it passed, good lord, it passed. And on Friday, as she and I were dancing in the kitchen, I had a very strong desire to stop time, to preserve the moment, but also to extend it.
Please, I asked her. Please tell me that we will do this all the time, and next year too and the year after that.
She laughed. Of course, she told me. We can dance whenever you want.
And I love her commitment to it and her belief that she will always be the girl who wants to hang out with her mom, but I know that’s not how things work.
It’s just that sometimes kids don’t want to spend time with their parents anymore, I tell her. Because kids start to think that their parents are odd or stupid.
Oh, yeah, she said. I totally think you’re completely ridiculous but you’re my mom and I love you.
I’ll take it.
One year ago ...
- A Line in the Sand - 2010
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Ohhh…. How sweet! Sigh… I wish we could freeze them at their good ages. Let’s hope that this is a sign that she will be a MATURE teenager (oxymoron?)…
This actually made me teary-eyed. I’m blaming hormones. 😉
Great number of parents are odd and stupid.
But, in the normal situations children are growing out of the family and not into it. Like flowers are growing out of the pot. People are together because they are relevant to each other. Physical proximity means very little. When relevancy disappears relationships crush. It sad but there is treatment for that yet.
This girl is truly very special, I agree with that.
Oh, this is the sweetest post ever, Marinka. Sounds like you have a wonderful daughter. 🙂
I think I’m sort of weird, as I never really went through an “I hate my mom” phase.
I loved this so so much. I never went through a hating my mom phase either. So it can happen!
Twitter: subwow
February 12, 2011 at 10:36 pm
*LOVE*
Love this! My 9 yr old has the whole mom is stupid eye roll thing down to a science. Sigh.
Sweetest.
Twitter: MommysMartini
February 12, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I love this, and I totally love her — even though I’ve never met her. Keep dancing, my friend…
Twitter: scarymommy
February 12, 2011 at 10:55 pm
You have no idea how much I needed to read this, as my eye-rolling, door slamming seven year old is screaming at my from up stairs.
You did good, Mama. xo
Twitter: aroadwithaview
February 12, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Oh, the sweet.
We never outgrow our kids, even as they grow into themselves and beyond our world. We just always want them in our world, because our world is made infinitely better by their presence. I hope you always, always dance!
Twitter: theflyingchlupa
February 12, 2011 at 11:59 pm
The softer, sweeter side of Marinka the Mother. I can totally picture blue birds on your shoulder, Bo Jangles tapping dancing in your kitchen, and your daughter – yes! Your daughter is Shirley Temple! There are deer eating out of your hand!
Oh, wait. Those are NYC pigeons seeking shelter from the cold. You really should close those windows.
But aside from that, we take whatever scraps are thrown our way, don’t we?
Twitter: KINGOFNYHACKS
February 13, 2011 at 3:07 am
Win …Win…keep rockin it Marinka ! 😉
this is beautiful. it made me teary. she’s a lucky girl too…
Twitter: grandemocha
February 13, 2011 at 8:34 am
Remember this on those bad days.
Oh I would take that anytime.
Twitter: Peajaye
February 13, 2011 at 2:30 pm
It’s like Madonna & Lady Gaga on the same stage! btw, how awesome would it be if the two of them performed an “Express Yourself” / “Born This Way” remix on the Grammy’s tonight?
Twitter: BigPieceofCake
February 13, 2011 at 7:46 pm
That brought a tear to my eye. What a lovely girl. You are very lucky to have her. But we all know that she is also very lucky to have you. Fingers crossed for my own little lady always wanting to hang out with me…
Thought I’d weigh in from the kid side even though I’m 36. My mom and I had some normal growing up fights but the first (and only) time I ever swore at her, to apologise, I took her to Vegas… she’s cool and not cool and I love her and because I miss home (yes I did leave the nest) and all things North American, I’m meeting my mom in NYC in a month, because that is the one thing that will help this funk I’m in. I just like her and it sounds like your kid just likes you. How cool is that???
Hey – I would take that too!
Twitter: motheringmayhem
February 20, 2011 at 2:37 pm
This type of bragging is encouraged! You’re obviously doing something right, regarding this parenting gig!
Twitter: PolPrairieMama
February 26, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Oh, that made me teary eyed as well! Brag away!