Wednesday, June 09, 2010

There Goes My Baby

Like sands through the hourglass...

Why is it whenever my third child decides to up the ante in the "growing up" department, do I hear the voice of Macdonald Carey ringing in my ears?

When I picked her up from school yesterday afternoon, I had to drop off something for her brother's 5th grade graduation ceremony in the office. She willingly took my hand like she always has, which I love, but when we passed one of the para educators in the hall she looked straight up at her and said, "Hello Mrs. Smith."

Like she was twenty years-old!

Sure, we've been trying to instill manners and all of that in all of our children since before they were born, but to actually witness it in person...blows my mind. At the beginning of the school year, she would have just smiled shyly. Now, it's like she's a completely different person. Where did my shy little girl go?

We had to run errands (read: go to Target) after school and she'd been talking for weeks about a special Barbie doll she had her eye on. By the grace of some miracle the universe owed me, I answered, "Can you show it to me?" when she asked if she could get it. This completely ended the conversation so that I could spend the rest of the time walking from the car to the building telling her the things on my list she needed to remind me not to forget.

Seriously, I thought I was a genius.

But anyway.

After the paper towels, bandages, dog food, toilet paper, dish soap, thank you cards and wine (the really important things on my list) were in my cart, we headed over to the dreaded Barbie aisle so she could show me what she had been talking about for the past month.

She stood, hands on hips, staring at all the hot pink boxes, passing up the really truly trashy models - instead focusing only on those that were "Barbie Veterinarians" or "Barbie Swim Instructors." I know, even though I do let her play with Barbies, I must be doing something right if she doesn't dive immediately towards the not-so-wholesome varieties, right? Finally, she settled on the Swim Instructor one and we were on our way.

But not before checking out the shampoo aisle, for I'd forgotten something on my list.

Well, that Target store layout designer is no dummy. Not only do they place the toys right across from the section containing all the cleaning supplies, but they also place the crafts and art things right across from the personal hygiene section. So when you're standing there, hands on your hips, contemplating which variety of Herbal Essences is right for your hair, your child can be tempted by all things Crayola in the aisle across the way.

And you bet your bottom dollar she was.

I thought it would be a new case of sidewalk chalk, or some fancy pens. But no. The item that caught her eye was a Jonas Brothers Color Explosion set, with stickers, of boys.

You can guess what happened to the Swim Instructor Barbie that was in our cart, can't you?

If you've seen my baby, send her home please. There seems to be a little girl taking her place.

8 comments:

Amanda said...

Weepy.

her aunt jenny said...

I'm not ready for that either... :(

Kim said...

just remember she still needs help cleaning her room and the Jonas brothers markers smelled like fish or so she told me and her dad... maybe next time she will stay with Barbie :)

Anonymous said...

Never thought I would wish she had a new Barbie...


xxxooogmom

Anonymous said...

Time to homeschool:)

Anonymous said...

My youngest son just graduated from high school. Where does the time go? They grow up while we're not looking...

Kyla said...

Yeah, I'll take a professional Barbie over those Jonas boys any day!! It happens so quick!

Miller Family said...

It's amazing to see the transition in your kids from the first day of Kinder to the last day of Kinder. School really does something to them. Mostly good things, but there are a few bad habits that could be left on the bus and at school.