Right of Passage

My two oldest girls just had their first sleepover during the Christmas break.  I had held off on doing the sleep over because I said they were "too young".  But I finally gave in to peer pressure (aka Rick) and let them do it.  Truth be told I think I held off because I wasn't ready not because they weren't.  I wasn't ready to have them be out of my grasp and from under my watchful eye.  Control freak much?  Can't you hear the helicopter blades screeching above your head?  And wouldn't you know it, they had a great time.  It started me thinking about all the rights of passage that kids go through.  I remember having a sleep over at my house.  I remember my first TV crush.  I love you Ricky Schroeder!!!  I wish I still had that autographed picture.  Took six months for me to get, but man was I excited.  I remember begging my Mom to let me wear make up and her finally agreeing to every other day. Although somehow I just happened to convince her that 'nope I didn't wear it yesterday'.  And what about the ear piercing? That has already come up in our house.  So many things you go through as a kid.  A sleep over is really small potatoes. 

But this whole sleep over business just got me thinking...What's next?  My oldest is eight. Reasonably speaking we aren't really that far from potentially having our first crush on someone be it on the big screen (hopefully) or in real life.  We are only five years away from when I promised she could get her ears pierced.  Eek.  Here I am watching the little one finally learn how to jump with both feet while my oldest is sleeping over and having opinions about clothing and just basically ripping through life like a tornado. 

I have to admit the only exciting part to this whole lose of childhood has been to watch how my two girls have matured this past year.  I recently had a terrible migraine and I just wasn't able to rally.  Lex took the little one back and made sure she went potty and washed her hands, Gabby put her down for a nap and then started in on her homework, and then both of them were so quiet and let me sleep.  I was so incredibly grateful at that moment that I had two older girls to help out.   Sometimes I feel like I spend so much time missing them as babies that I forget to stop and be thankful for the wonderful little people that they have become. 

So I guess I need to get on the bus, strap on the belt and get ready for those rights of passage. I can try to postpone, prolong the inevitable, but they are coming.  They should bring me nothing but joy because they are a sign my wonderful girls are growing up.  I guess I should find a little humor.  It could be worse...their walls could be covered with Michael Jackson posters and they could be kissing their Ricky Schroeder autographed (did I mention that) picture before heading into bed.  We aren't there yet.  They still think their Dad hung the moon, at least for a little while longer.