It has become painfully clear to me that I am now the mother of a tween. The other day KK and I were watching TV together when an ad came on that started like this: “You no longer need to use a man’s razor…”
KK turned to me and asked, “Do you use Daddy’s razor?”
“No, I don’t” I replied, “I have my own razor”
As the commercial continued to show a woman shaving her legs, my 8 year old asked, “Can I use your razor to shave my legs?”
“When you turn 13, I will give you your own razor.”
“Thirteen? I have to live with these hairy legs until I am 13? Everyone will laugh at me!”
<insert long drawn-out drama here>
In reality, I am sure she will shave her legs sooner than 13. I don’t know if she will ask permission or just do it on the sly, but I think 13 is a good starting point for negotiations. I know it is fun to feel grown up and to begin doing grown-up stuff, like shaving, but I hope to hold her off for a while. My first born son was always anxious to try the grown up things too. I have a wonderful photo of him showing off where he cut his chin while shaving for the first time…he was only 9 at the time but he was so proud of himself!
When I took her in for her 8 year check up with her pediatrician, I got the “talk” from the doctor, “Now that KK is 8, you need to watch for signs of puberty and to be prepared to answer any questions she may have for you.” Yikes! I don’t want to hear this! It is exciting to see her grow and change but it would be so nice to slow down the clock.
Ready or not, World, here she comes!
