Preteen Issues...

Tonight Big A was a bit on the emotional side.  Not her usual crying and getting frustrated about things.  More the sort of things I thought I wouldn't have to deal with until she became a preteen.  On the way home from the store tonight, she said her leg was itching her and she had bumps on it that hurt.  So, when we got home, I took a look at it.  Her calf had extremely dry skin, and I put some lotion on it.  She then told me that she didn't think her legs looked "very cute" because they were too hairy.  I told her that they looked fine and that in a couple of years she could start shaving them if she wanted to.  She complained that other girls don't have as much hair as she does and showed me her arm--  "See, there is too much hair on it.  It is a half inch long!  Other girls have smooth, pretty skin on their arms and legs..."  I told her that you can't even see the hair on her arms because it is blond and that there is nothing wrong with hairy arms.  Then I showed her my arms, which are also hairy.  She just looked at me like I was crazy.  She was laughing about it, but I could tell it was really bothering her.  Tomorrow she will be 8 years old, and already she is comparing her body to "other girls"...  Ugh.  I don't ever want her to feel inferior because of her looks... but I know that all girls seem to go through this type of thing...  I just thought I might have a few more years until I would have to deal with preteen issues.  Guess not. 

Part of the reason she was feeling emotional, I'm certain, is the fact that she was up tossing and turning until about 10:30 last night.  She couldn't sleep, so she got in the bed with me at about 9pm.   I let her, even though it meant I had to turn out the lights and read in the dark.  Fortunately I got an ereader for my Birthday, so this was not a problem.  She still tossed and turned for the longest time.  When I finally started dosing off, I reached over to make sure she was covered up and felt a foot by my head!  She was turned with her head facing the foot of the bed....  but at least she was sleeping so I left her that way.  It's funny, I guess I was so engrossed in my book that I didn't even notice her changing positions....  Big A rarely gets in bed with me anymore.  She slept only in my bed until she was 4 years old.  She never spent a single night in her crib.  Then one day she simply decided she wanted to sleep in her own bed.   And she did.  Little A, on the other hand, was just the opposite.  As a baby she could not sleep unless she was in her own bed...  Now she gets in my bed at some point almost everynight.   Funny, at least I can say I'm not sleeping alone. :)