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I Looked At Her And Now She’s A Tween

Maybe it’s the school uniform, maybe it’s the general sportiness of my daughter, but she’s never looked older than her years.

She walked past me a moment ago with her hair a tangled mane of brown with streaks of blonde from the sun, a tank top and pajama pants on. She looks fifteen, the most beautiful, striking teenage look of them all.

Her cheeks are still full with the look of early childhood, but her eyes are deeper set and her nose is defined. My daughter stopped being cute, and she is transforming into a beauty.

It happened overnight. The world is an easier place when you are beautiful, but still it is more complicated.

I’m simply awestruck.

7 thoughts on “I Looked At Her And Now She’s A Tween”

  1. Jessica…
    Thank you for this post. My daughter is only 5… yet sometimes I see the baby fade away, and the big girl coming out. It happens more & more often now. And she too is a beauty.

    Being a teenager is tough. I think being a girl teen is even tougher.
    Maybe being pretty helps… I’m not sure. Because I’m not sure anyone thinks they are beautiful when they are in the midst of puberty. Sigh.

    So please tell her you think she’s beautiful and awesome and smart and kind everything else you’ve thought but maybe didn’t SAY. Tell her what you’ve said so SHE KNOWS it.

    -kelly

    1. I do tell her all of those things. I tend to write about the things I don’t say.

      Telling your 11 year old that she’s a stunning beauty might not be the most helpful compliment to hand out on a daily basis. Telling her she is kind, and smart and capable… well, we try and do that a few times a day. And then once more for luck.

  2. Jessica,

    I am with you. The moment was not her Bat Mitzvah (where I thought the coming of age would flood over me in biblical proportions- maybe I was too busy with the fete going on?) nor the start of 8th grade or even the developmental milestones (oh, subtle) as of late. It happens in the quiet moments, in crazy waves of watching her try on shoes in the ADULT shoe department or listening to her make plans with friends. The other day I was simply in awe of her height (she is leggy in a way I will never be) and the way in which her body moves – without a care or the weight of the world.

    And despite the fact that I should envy all of this, I do not. Amazing how it works…I am so full of love and pride from it that I don’t even stop to realize that her being the teen turns me into the mom of said teen. Many, many moons away from where the inner-me lies. And that my friend, is a blog for another day.
    Cheers!

  3. Sometimes I think that I can’t wait for my baby to get older, do more, develop faster, and then sometimes, I can. This is one of those moments. I want to savor her . . . every minute of her. Thanks for the reminder that it will come when I don’t even expect it.

  4. This is an eye-opener. They grow up so fast. My daughters are toddlers still, but I don’t think I’m emotionally and mentally ready to toss their boyfriends out or catch up with their hip young linggo. But when that day comes, I’ll be ready to love them and appreciate them for who they are and what they choose to stand for. I’m their dad. :D

  5. Jessica,
    I know exactly how you feel. My only child, my daughter, is 16. (sigh) It’s her Junior year of high school and she has her driver’s permit. Did I miss some years in there? It sure seems like I did because it has gone by way too quickly. I do tell her that she’s beautiful all the time. Little girls growing up certainly pulls at one’s heartstrings, doesn’t it? (((HUGS))) to all the mommies (and daddies) out there sharing the same.

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