Some thoughts on a growing up daughter. . .

Abbie had the opportunity to go to Girl's Camp this year (even though she isn't quite 12 yet :) It was incredibly awesome to have the opportunity to be there while she experienced her first camp. She was there for about two days before I arrived and was having the time of her life.

Abbie being afraid of a balloon (It's skit night and our ward theme for "Camp Anatomy-The Doctor Is Always In" was "Psych Ward")

Our stake has a tradition of having "Solo Time" on the last full day of camp. Each young woman is provided with a booklet to work on and read through with counsel from prophets, and scriptures to read. At the end of completing the booklet, they are directed to read a special letter from one of their parents. The stake prepares a different booklet each year, and this year, I had the opportunity to write my first parent letter to Abbie.

Okay, this has nothing to do with Abbie, but I thought it was such a great picture, I couldn't resist. Since Jason is in the Stake Presidency, both he and Jeanine were able to come up on Priesthood night. It was fun to spend the evening at camp with them.

Traditionally, on the last night of camp, there is a dance. This is what it looks like with the lights off. And with the flash on (Abbie is background, center):

On another note entirely, I swear in the four and a half weeks since school adjourned for the summer she has grown by leaps and bounds. She looks completely different to me. My little girl is just about gone. I know every family has their own view of when is the right time to graduate to things like ear piercing and makeup. I have pretty much stuck with the traditions that I grew up with. She got her ears pierced when she was nine (okay, a week or two early), and with the exception of allowing her to wear mascara last year, I've held off on the makeup wearing until 7th grade. I felt pretty darn good as a mother for holding off that long. It would have been easier if we didn't have to hit the whole move on to an older school in 6th grade, as opposed to how I grew up, moving on in 7th grade (I am fully in support of the jr. high model, btw, not middle school. 6th graders should not be hanging around 8th graders. . .but I digress).

ANYWAY, we went the other day and did the makeup purchases. I know some mother's feelings are quite strong about when these things should or should not take place. I'm not going to offer a strong opinion-everyone is entitled to their own. I know the day will come when Abbie will do her own crazy experiments with makeup, and that's all fine (like today, when she did Spencer's while I was at an appointment. No, no picture, sorry. It was removed by the time I got home). I only offer this advice, do it when she is still young enough that she wants to take that step together. I got to do the shopping with my daughter, and we did our makeup together the first time she tried it out. It was a fun memory for me, and hopefully for her as well. But then, hold on because she will suddenly look more mature than you were prepared for :)