BrightSide laughs when I say this, but I’ve always considered myself a pretty low maintenance kind of gal.  (He then points out a million ways in which that description absolutely DOES NOT fit me, but whatever.  This is my blog.)  Growing up I was into reading, year round soccer, babysitting, roller skating, bike riding…pretty much active stuff, unless my nose was buried in a book.  So even though she has a lot of those qualities, I look around Bear’s room with her collection of lip gloss and nail polish, hair accessories, purses, stuffed animals, costumes (some too small to even fit anymore), adorable puppy posters, and sparkle and it’s like I’ve entered another dimension.

As for me, it’s not like college brought a drastic swing toward daintiness.  I joined a sorority but wasn’t really a rah-rah sorority girl — then again, I’d chosen a nontraditional house filled with young women who didn’t fit the typical Greek mold, so it was a good fit for me.  I was active in several student clubs, studied hard, and enjoyed time with BrightSide.  We’d do pretty laid back things — study dates, dinner & a movie, watching tv, or hanging out at some of the typical UVA haunts.  My parents paid my tuition and basic expenses but spending money came out of my pocket so I’ve never been big on flashy splurges.  I didn’t care about fancy clothes or cars…I just wanted normal, and that’s what I had.  Not crazy plain nerdiness and not über-rich reckless spending, just plain old normal.

Fast forward thirteen years to when a six pound bundle of loveliness entered our lives.  Bear had arrived to complete our family, and while I was thrilled to have a little girl I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.  You see, I wasn’t that girl.  I’ve never been “that girl,” the one with the perfect hair and makeup who knows how to dress and accessorize.  I’ve always been the regular girl, the one who goes about her business living her life.  Hell, I didn’t even learn how to apply real makeup until my thirties when I met someone who took me on as a sort of personal makeover project. (That was the year I learned about plucking my eyebrows, followed by a visit to the Clinique counter where I learned the joy of proper foundation and concealer.  Big time stuff.)

Well, as Bear grew up it became clear to me that she had more girly girl in her than I ever did as a kid.  At first it manifested in her style choices.  Girlfriend was all about putting together fantastic outfits, a fashion sense that has only sharpened over time with jewelry, scarves, and the like.  Then we added in the hair…oh my word, the hair.  That will have to be a separate post as there simply are no words for The Hair.  But as she’s grown up, Bear has blossomed into a full-fledged beauty queen. She is all about the fashion, the accessories, the nails, the shoes, the bags, and (oh yes indeed) the hair.

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Here are only a few of the girly topics on which I’ve tried to sound knowledgable:

  • Accessories — We’ve discussed “statement pieces” and how you should only wear one at a time or they compete for attention.  Where the hell did I even learn the phrase “statement piece?”
  • Shoes — “Sure, honey, those sparkly flats with the flower appliqué are perfect with your party dress.”
  • Outfits — A lovely woman at church last month leaned forward to quietly compliment me on how adorable Bear is, then commented on how much fun I must have dressing her.  And I was 100% truthful when I replied, “Oh no, that fashion sense is ALL her.” The lady passed her compliment on to Bear personally and she grinned from ear to ear for the entire service.
  • Nails — Girlfriend loves to do her nails.  She chooses interesting colors, sports multiple colors on one hand, and sometimes adds a design.  This year she had her nails done at a salon for the first time before the daddy-daughter dance, and she is dying to go back.
  • Bags — Though she has a crate full of bags in her closet, Bear has 3 or 4 in regular rotation.  The ones she uses as activity bags weigh more than she does; at this rate I’m afraid she’ll have back problems by the time she’s eighteen.
  • Hair — Again, this will have to be another post as it simply cannot fit into this tiny spot.  Let’s just say Bear’s transitioned through puffs, twists, box braids, cornrows, and ponytails to where she is now, alternating between wearing it natural and having me blow it out & flat iron it.  Then of course there’s the headband, barrette, ponytail holder, or unadorned decision…

It’s been a pretty steep learning curve for a natural-born tomboy like me, but I’m determined to have at least part of a clue when she cranks it up in the tween years.

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