The Mi (as she calls herself.)

Mimi is getting to be a real live kid.  She’s 6 1/2 now and no one to be trifled with.

(I am 100% irritated with the preposition at the end of that sentence, but I cannot rephrase in anything but a pretentious way and so it stands, please forgive on the basis of my own awareness of grammatical error.)

Holy moly, did I DO this?  Alone?!  Three under three in 2009.

As the eldest she has many responsibilities and is a very capable individual.  As my daughter she would rather lay down and die than be bossed.  It’s a delicate balance. 

I’m a firm believer in the whole Love Languages theory, specifically as it applies to children.  Basically the theory is that children need all five types of love every day: words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, receiving gifts, and acts of service.  Mimi’s particular favorites are quality time and physical touch.  She’s become wise enough to learn that when we don’t get along the easiest way back into my good graces is acts of service.

 

When she’s acting like this, I know Mimi’s needs aren’t being adequately met.

When the Mi and I clash it’s usually because I haven’t fed the Mimi meter: spent alone time with her.  Spending alone time with someone who was at the time driving me batty is a real challenge to me, but Hush supported us having “Girl Time” by taking the boys to have “Guy Time.”  That means fried food and bowling.  (Heart melting, btw.  What single dude offers to take two little boys bowling? Maybe he believes he’s involved in a Sainting contest.  Or maybe he’s just a fine male specimen.)

So Monday Mimi and I went on a girl date.  This, of course, meant sushi and shopping. She picked out both of our outfits and we had a grand time.

It’s been fascinating to me to watch Mimi become more self aware.  Fascinating and terrifying.  I find 50 selfies with duckface on my phone all the time.

She has also developed a signature sassy pose. 

At the fabulous SLC library, rockin’ her sassy pose and some ducklips.

As sassy and delightful and at times difficult and very independent as Mimi is, she is just every inch a little girl and I am so grateful for her.  She’s a pink, sparkles, clapping games, emotions, kitty loving all American girl.

Learning to wakeboard.

Every six year old girl should know Miss Suzy, Miss Mary Mack, and Say Say oh Playmate.