Parenting Big Kids (5-8) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of big kids (5 to 8 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.
This is more of an observation than anything, but over the past year, my seven year-old daughter has gone from a complete princess to a downright rugged, dirt-playing, bruised up, scratched-up, ball playing girl.
She's always been very energetic and active, but this year she has become increasingly so. She's a tiny little girl, weighing in at only 40 pounds and or so, and even shorter than some of the kindergarteners in her school (she is finishing up the second grade this year...) and can run faster than all the boys and girls in her class.
What's funny to me is that last year I had to plead and beg and bribe and threaten for her to wear jeans or shorts. Even in some of the colder weather here, she preferred only to go to school (or anywhere, really) dressed to the hilt in a dress or skirt and tights and shiny strappy shoes. I eventually gave up the fight and let her be as far as clothing as long as she didn't wear anything too ridiculous. I had to pick my battles, you see. And this one was a losing, stressful one. Her hair as well was coiffed to the point of perfection (done by her) and smoothed and combed whenever she thought of it.
THIS year, it couldn't be more different. Jeans and shorts and t-shirts are the preferred manner of dressing with her hair lazily thrown up into a ponytail. Rather than ballet, she chooses to go outside after school and dig and build and play handball or soccer.
Her poor body looks like she'd been drafted to war with bruises and scratches and heaven knows what else.
This evening, I noticed that her right arm was all torn up in scratches. I asked her what happened ans she told me nonchalantly that she fell into a bush while trying to catch a ball.
Not that I mind. I like her active and running around outside.
I just am taken aback with incredulity on what a proverbial 180 she's done. I was more like the tomboy when I was her age...I never really went through a princess stage.
I am quite sure with age, she'll return to somewhat of a princess again.
Blech...adolescence....
What an interesting age this is...
Cheers,
Debbie
She's always been very energetic and active, but this year she has become increasingly so. She's a tiny little girl, weighing in at only 40 pounds and or so, and even shorter than some of the kindergarteners in her school (she is finishing up the second grade this year...) and can run faster than all the boys and girls in her class.
What's funny to me is that last year I had to plead and beg and bribe and threaten for her to wear jeans or shorts. Even in some of the colder weather here, she preferred only to go to school (or anywhere, really) dressed to the hilt in a dress or skirt and tights and shiny strappy shoes. I eventually gave up the fight and let her be as far as clothing as long as she didn't wear anything too ridiculous. I had to pick my battles, you see. And this one was a losing, stressful one. Her hair as well was coiffed to the point of perfection (done by her) and smoothed and combed whenever she thought of it.
THIS year, it couldn't be more different. Jeans and shorts and t-shirts are the preferred manner of dressing with her hair lazily thrown up into a ponytail. Rather than ballet, she chooses to go outside after school and dig and build and play handball or soccer.
Her poor body looks like she'd been drafted to war with bruises and scratches and heaven knows what else.
This evening, I noticed that her right arm was all torn up in scratches. I asked her what happened ans she told me nonchalantly that she fell into a bush while trying to catch a ball.
Not that I mind. I like her active and running around outside.
I just am taken aback with incredulity on what a proverbial 180 she's done. I was more like the tomboy when I was her age...I never really went through a princess stage.
I am quite sure with age, she'll return to somewhat of a princess again.
Blech...adolescence....
What an interesting age this is...
Cheers,
Debbie
be careful not to blink too long, you never know who she might turn into next!
its quite an adventure to watch them explore their identity, isn't it!? this parenting gig is such a rollercoaster ride, thrilling, but also kinda makes ya wanna puke!