How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

The Pre-Teen Monster

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She has traded play mobile for karaoke.

Picks Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Hedley over Crazy Frog or The Wheels on the Bus.

Prefers Glee to the Wiggles.

Squeals over a Bench sweatshirt…down with Barbie?

T-shirts require bras. Good grief.

Sometimes she will still hold my hand in the mall, but I know those days are numbered.

Friends have become gossipy and fickle. Social status has become important…peer groups have morphed into peer pressure.

I thought when my babies got a little older, life would be easier. The joke is on me. Somehow it gets more difficult, more intense and complicated at every turn. You worry more then ever, watch each and everyday as your daughter, caught in that awkward place between girl and teen, struggles with the challenges puberty and life throw at her.

As this sweet girl is rushing to become a teenager, she continues to be my daily challenge.

A confident, defiant, expressive, whirlwind in one moment; a stumbling, eager, quiet thinker the next.

Bright and brilliant. Beautiful and creative.

On this incredible journey of parenthood, I will do my best to lead…she will try to make her own mark on the world. As a Mama, you do the best you can and hope it is enough. I will make sure she knows we are proud, she is loved.

I thank God for her each and every night.

Today my baby turns 12. This year I wish her health, strength, confidence, good friends, adventure, and true joy. I hope that all her dreams come true, and then she dreams some more!

You have changed my life forever…..

Happy Birthday my BlueEyed baby.

    • Comments

    5. Great post and you have nailed it on the head. The worries are deeper, no longer worry, will I be able to keep my baby alive and fed but will she survive the social cruelty that is her teen years. The pain is deeper and harder to heal than a boo boo.. Good luck.

    8. Oh, I can’t wait! Or maybe I can. I cannot decide. I have three teen/preteen boys and a 3 year old girl. I long for the days when we walk the mall tother or when she has her first crush. Everyone tells me I’ll hate her during those years but I hope for the best. Happy Birthday to yours!

    13. happy bday to her. all true for my 12 yr old too except she will play barbie sometimes…she will be one of those collector types i guess.

    14. Happy Birthday and well done Mom … what a great job, I can hear your pride in every word!
      Chelsea aka Wiki will be 13 on Sunday, hard to believe as my heart wishes for time to stand still – and she wishes it would too. Last night, when my hub was giving her a cuddle (she is still a cuddle bug and still holds hands!) he said jokingly he wasn’t ready and she should stop. She squeezed him tight, and got teary saying, Daddy, I wish I could’ … if only it were that simple.
      Hugs to YOU, this growing up thing is hard!