I’ve made it a point to try and set aside some time for just “M” and myself.  Considering she is in preschool during the school year and camp on and off this summer “J” and I quite frequently have time to share in the mornings but usually when “M” is with me so is her shadow, the wild man, and as much fun as it is with us all together sometimes it’s nice when it’s just us girls.

That being said I think it’s the universe’s way of laughing at me that my daughter is so girly.  I wasn’t.  In fact, my mom thought I could use a few tips growing up so she enrolled me in Barbizon.  No joke I fell off the runway with an overly enthusiastic turn, practically took my eyelashes off with the eyelash curler, and stopped going because it conflicted with soccer practice.  To this day I don’t know how to do my own hair let alone anyone else’s, and a pedicure is literally my idea of torture (granted I’m ticklish).  I’ve more than made up for many of my tomboy ways since I grew in to certain things like fun dresses, great jewelry, and an obsession with shoes but I still take less than ten minutes to get ready in the morning (part necessity, part normal—-I don’t get any better looking with more time, in fact I can rapidly make things a lot worse, think Vegas showgirl/clown).  I still don’t know how to do hair, I pretty much wear the same accessories every day (despite having a lovely husband who buys me pretty things), and I’m not too creative with makeup, boring in fact (hmm, I wonder if that Barbizon credit is still good?).  My daughter meanwhile has on several occasions uttered “I can’t let anyone see me like this!!!” usually when I am attempting to do her hair.  Seriously?!?  You’re 4.  You wore your shirt backwards today!!!  And you are giving me crud about the hair?  Pbbbttt.  ”M” will also always choose a dress over the alternative (weather be damned), she covers herself in jewelry for any occasion (made up or real), and walks better in her princess costume heels than I do in my own.

Needless to say “M” loves movie and makeover days (and by “day” I mean a special hour or two just me and my girl).  We start by getting in to our pj’s, painting her nails (which normally requires that she paint my nails….chalk that up to fine motor skill practice and break out the remover after bedtime), putting on chapstick (the little girls alternative to lipstick), and settle in for a movie.

And no movie is complete without popcorn.  These days we often make our “princess popcorn”.  Which is to add a couple of drops of red food coloring to a cup (or so) of white chocolate chips then melt, while stirring, in a double boiler (can be done in the micro—although I’ve found that white chocolate is more finicky than brown chocolate and seizes rather easily so heat in small increments of 10 seconds or so and stir frequently).  Once melted pour over popcorn and mix (and if you are like us, add a few pinches of salt)!

I love alone time with my girl.  My girly soccer-playing, engineer/inventor, princess girl.