nine & a half

one is currently filling out college applications & rounding up dates to visit SEC schools

one is the current object of mean girl behavior

one is appalled that i demanded she spit out the gum she was smacking

& one
well
she's nine and half

she's not dealing with mean girls, college apps, or boys
she does occasionally smack her gum
which she dutifully spits out when busted
but no major dramas yet
no drivers license
or tampons
no particular shampoo preference
or expensive jeans

they were nine and half just the other day
i swear it was just the other day
& now it's flat irons, facebook & curfews

last night the little one fell asleep in bed with me
our toes are painted the same color
(OPI suede suzi skis in the pyrenees)
her little nine & a half self is like a port in the storm for me during
what can sometimes be turbulent teen waters

i held her little hand as she drifted off to dreamland
she'll smell like a warm buttered biscuit when she wakes up in the morning
but sooner than i'd prefer
she'll smell like peace love & juicy couture body cream
sigh

chances are
in a few years
she'll hit that fabulous age, thirteen, where she won't like me all that much
for a while anyway
she'll wise back up & realize my wardrobe will occasionally be of benefit
as are my opi & essie inventories
 she'll borrow my shoes and raid my jewelry
she'll complain that i use too much salt in my cooking
that i don't recycle efficiently
& disagree on the length of her chosen homecoming dress
her boyfriend hopefully will not sport a gauged pierced ear (barf)

there's many a day when i wish they were all around nine and a half, seven and six
7:00 bedtimes
tucked in after reading a classic
maybe a visit from the tooth fairy
smocked dresses
& mary janes

the last one is almost there
proms, high heels and shakespeare
but for tonight
she's nine & a half
& the biggest issue she faced today~
would tinkerbell have a successful great fairy rescue?