To say I was 'giddy with delight' at the very idea of making a Cinderella tu-tu for my four-year-old-neice, is an understatement. I unabashedly (and gratuitously) squealed and shrieked upon the addition of each piece of tulle, each silk flower and cut of ribbon---much to the amused annoyance of the three offspring aka Coco, Nay and especially Mocha. When she was the same age, she would wear that sort of thing only out of obligation, never with the delight of a 'fairy princess.' Although she was never considered to be a tomboy, at age six she opted for Breyer horses over the most beautiful Carolle and American Girl dolls. *sigh* I had had such great expectations for this first child, only girl of mine. The 'First' had been profusely and repeatedly bequeathed by her court of doting relatives an extraordinary array of playthings that ranged from porcelain tea sets to pink feather boas and tiaras, doll houses, collectibles, and virtually every kind of doll stroller and cradle imagineable. To the extreme satisfaction of her gift-givers, she was always generous with smiles and hugs of acknowlegement. Beyond that, she was all but completely oblivious to both the stock-pile and the latest supplement. I remember her young friends and playmates being somewhat, albeit happily stunned, to find that they could 'call dibs' on her prettiest dolls without so much as the smallest fuss from Mocha. I suppose the same sort of preferences have carried over to today--- and I'm glad for it. At fourteen, her 'likes' are still a-typical and somewhat secondary in popularity amongst her age group. She has a penchant for blue nail polish instead of being 'made-up' for a cover shoot..... her hair is braided instead of 'highlighted'.... ahhhh, I certainly should have known better than to lament over one six-year-old's sweet indifference to tulle and sparkles.:)
My 'growed-up' girl, studying--- who else??? but Dickens, "Great Expectations" before volleyball practice.
