Growing Up

Ane lost another tooth last night – her bottom right lateral incisor, for those of you keeping score – and was none too pleased about it.  I’ve never known a kid who has been so ticked off about losing her baby teeth.

This tooth left a bit of a hole, which I find endearingly cute (she won’t let me take a picture yet), and there’s no permanent tooth popping in just yet.  But this tooth was quite ready to go, and only needed a gentle tug.  Her top front teeth are wiggly, but not quite ready to go yet.

While she was moping (and before I produced the popsicles), I reminded her that she’d lost teeth before.  “This is all a part of growing up,” I reminded her.

“You didn’t tell me that,” she pouted.

Trust me, there was no pouting when she discovered the quarter the Tooth Fairy left behind.

The Webmaster and I have also decided that Ane is ready for regular chores.  She now has some designated weekly chores that she will have to be responsible for in order to earn her allowance.  In addition to keeping her room tidy, she is now responsible for collecting the garbage each Monday night (our garbage gets picked up on Tuesday mornings), helping take the recycling out on the same night, dusting the living room on Saturdays, and helping me with the laundry.  I’ve been teaching her how to fold diapers, and she’s quite good at sorting socks for me.

Ane was initially reluctant to get started on collecting the garbage, but as I walked her through it, she became downright enthusiastic.  “Hey, this is easy!” she exclaimed.  “I can do this!”

While her father is pleased that she’s learning to pull her own weight in the family, I felt a slight twinge of sadness.  My little girl is indeed growing up, and nothing I do will stop that.

So I’d better get on board this train and ride it, because the journey is just going faster and faster, and I’d better enjoy it while I can.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 1:44 am and is filed under Children, Mommyhood.
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