AE has one less wallet to seat

[stgulik]

Homecoming Week is coming up, and all of a sudden, my 14 year-old daughter is keen to go to the dance. And by "go to the dance," I mean buy a short dress and some girl shoes, and have her long hair curled, the whole enchilada.

I'm not going to ask you where my baby went, because hey, I can count. What I AM going to ask you is, where is the 14 year-old kid who cannot possibly be talked into wearing shorts, even when it's 100 degrees out, because god forbid somebody might see her knees. THAT girl was just here a minute ago, I swear. And now, who the hell knows where she is.

Wait - I know. 

She's at the mall!

I would have been okay being the carpool mom, but some other mom has the honor today. I'm not all that upset. My girl needs to learn how to make decisions without me hovering. Besides, it's not the greatest thing to be the carpool mom. Most stores don't give you nice places to sit while you wait.

Except American Eagle. American Eagle, for my two European flisters, is a clothing store where buying jeans is akin to a lifestyle decision. Each type of jeans comes with its own lengthy narrative on the tag, I'm not kidding. Artist Jeans are low-slung, tight all the way down the leg, and excitingly distressed with little holes here and there. Boyfriend Jeans are even lower slung, faded, a little loose in the hip and a little long in the leg. Etc.

While the teens are busy choosing the image they want to project, we wallets - er, parents - are treated to a nice be-sofaed area in the center back of the store, near the dressing rooms. They play music videos, ostensibly broadcast from some college media station . There's sightline advantage  - our teens are able to monitor us from anywhere in the store. And if parents start to get chatty, any teen or 20-something store employee can smoothly step in to keep us from telling embarrassing baby stories. It's a smart system.

Anyway, they don't sell lifestyle dresses at AE, so it's just as well I get to stay home and beta in peace. With any luck, her friends will help her pick out something she's happy with. Where is my camera?

Comments

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

I understand. My children are in their late 30's and early 40's, and I'm still asking myself where all that time went.

*hugs you*

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

Thanks, beffeysue. Don't tell anyone but I am actually in need of a hug here.

[voxangelus.livejournal.com]

Schools still have semi-formal homecoming dances? Mine was casual, sixteen :O years ago (freshman year was the only year I bothered going).

*hugs* I hope you'll share some picspam if you're comfortable with doing so!

[bonsaibetz.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I'm not far behind. My son just started using deodorant. He's 10 and has underarm hair. And my 7 year old, when she dances to music, I can see her as a teenager already.

But know that we'll be freaked out together.

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

~tight hugs~ here I'm worried about potty training. Sigh. But I remember being worried when he wouldn't roll over. I imagine dates to the dances are next.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

OMG you guys, she's home, and the dress. It's strapless! I don't even. Who is this person?

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

Our first dress might as well have been strapless! It had rhinestone encrusted spaghetti straps!

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

This person is your lovely 14 year old daughter... all grown up. This calls for moar and stronger hugs.

{{{Moar hugs)))[[you will survive]]{{{Moar hugs)))[[you will survive]]{{{Moar hugs)))

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

My baby (she's 15) had her first semi-formal this past Spring. She even had a date...sigh... I look in the mirror and wonder where the 25 year old I still am has gone! My boy is 12 - where did the time slip to?

[darklotus1211.livejournal.com]

*hugs* As the mother of a 6'4" (and still growing) 15yr old that now has a beard growing in... I can empathise.

It's quite a shock at first, but, as all we parents do - we adapt. It comes with a sigh and a tug at the heart strings, but we do.

Being a parent is constantly playing catch up, isn't it? You just get a handle on one phase, and find you have to start all over again.