Monday, August 18, 2008

Those Schoolgirl Days, of Telling Tales and Biting Nails are Gone

You'll have to excuse me tonight, but my baby just started high school, and that fact apparently just turned me into one sad, sorry sap. I'll get over it until the next time, of course, but for now, I'm just going to sit in amazement at how fast this child rearing shit goes. I know everyone talks about it, but seriously. One minute, they're all cute and sweet and wearing clothes that you sewed, dyed and hand painted, without a complaint, a sigh, an eye roll, or the most dreaded - Ewwww, gross!

Then the next thing you know, they're old enough to be fighting over the fact that there's only one pink plastic guitar.

Next they're either happily or not so happily posing for photos on the Pagliai's building fire escape...

...And smashing snow on each other's heads.

Soon their grade school days are numbered and they're actually, kinda, sorta liking each other sometimes.

While other times, they assume their roles as long suffering older sister to the younger's obnoxious, goofball.

Suddenly, they're both young women. Still dorky and driving each other nuts most of the time, but also looking out for each other. At Stinky's sleepover, Coadster sat down with Stinky and all of her incoming freshmen friends and instructed them on the ins and outs of high school. She told them which parking lot to avoid, where they should sit in the cafeteria if they didn't want to get targeted by the territorial upperclassmen and which of the girls in high school were fakey, heinous bitches and not to be trusted. Then she dealt out her last, most important advice, "Stay away from the the junior and senior boys. They will be all over you guys because they know you all have low self-esteem and they can talk you into a bunch of stuff you shouldn't even know about right now." Amen to that, sister. I think Coadster covered it all pretty well.

Here is a photo that was taken this morning when Coadster's friends came to pick her up to start her junior year. She's known the girl sitting next to her since they were born. Awww.

22 comments:

Minyo said...

Cool post! You just gotta be all nostalgic sometimes. I'm getting weepy just thinking about my girls growing up. Your girls are beautiful!

*Renee* said...

It's crazy how time flies by but then there are days you feel like the day has gone on forever. Wow, schools are starting even sooner than I thought! Usually around here, they all start the last week in August. And yeah - good advice from Coadster! I never dated guys from the same school because of all the drama they would start!

Anonymous said...

Awwwww!! God, I love looking at old baby pictures. And I love your sappy posts.

rel said...

Churlita,
And then they're in there forties!

Enjoy every minute of their time with you. I know you are.
rel

Anonymous said...

Wow, the pre-high school pep talk was all inclusive....Coadster really nailed every subject. Looks like mom has done a great job.

the pink guitar was from the "pre-Guitar Hero/Rock Band" period when a child had to pretend some...

AlienCG said...

Good job of the older sister looking out for the younger one. May high school be a valuable experience for them.

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

I believe you when you say that child rearing shit goes by fast.. same thing here for our two older ones.. One day they are cute and cuddly and the next they son't want you touching them in public.. It's funny and sad all at the same time.. so it's okay to be a sad sorry sap...In my books that is okay..

DJSassafrass said...

"I wanna go to hike school."

"Don't say that...don't you ever say that. You gotta cherish this time. You GOTTA cherish it."

Tara said...

Oh man...high school. (shivers)

I wish you and your girl the best of luck with the transition. You'll both be fine.

Susan said...

I think it's perfectly normal to be a sappy mess on days like that. Take your time.

Mr Atrocity said...

You do nostalgia so terribly well.

NoRegrets said...

Oh wow, you're going to make me cry, and they aren't even my kids. You've done a wonderful job - just know that.

booda baby said...

I was thinking there might just be a leeeetle possibility - you/Judy Garland - but this clears things up. You get girls like your girls. A Judy Garland gets ...

Anonymous said...

Amazing
A

Your Humble Proprietor said...

My little one just started Junior High on Monday.

His birthday is a few weeks away and he asked for some Legos. I can't help thinking that it's the last time I'll ever buy him a real toy for his birthday.

The wistfulness - she is spreading!

laura b. said...

Back to school is always a time of reflection for me too. I always think of it as the real new year.
It's kind of nice that they're in the same school again, right?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure you don't think you'll ever get there- but one day I hope you'll LOVE that empty nest!

Churlita said...

Minyo,

Thanks. It's just so weird and wonderful to see them become people, isn't it?

Renee,

I never dated at all in high school, but there were plenty of guys I should have stayed away from in college.

Emma,

Thanks. I get that they're a little indulgent, but then so are blogs in general, so what the hell?

Rel,

I know. It's crazy isn't it?

Evil-E,

And if I had said those same things, they probably would have disregarded them, but an older sister really makes an impact.

Alien,

Thanks. I hope it is too. Was Evil-E like that with you when you were growing up?

Mrs.,

it's almost overnight too.

Dj,

Perfect.

Tara,

High school and junior high are both pretty scary prospects.

Susan,

Thanks. I did and now I'm pretty okay with it again.

Mr Atrocity,

Thank you. Is that an emphasis on the terrible?

Nor,

You are so nice. We'll see what kind of books they write about me when they're older...

Booda Baby,

Please feel free to shoot me if either of my daughters turn out like Liza Minelli. 'Kay?

A.,

Thanks.

YHP,

I wonder if he's going to the same junior high my girls went to?

Birthdays aren't as much fun as they get older, that's for sure.

LauraB.,

Nice for me at least. I think they're both okay with it too.

egan said...

Aw, you're a proud mom. I love it. I've seen how fast this time flies first hand. I'm shocked by how fast the weeks fly by now, I can't imagine how that would change with a second child.

Thanks for the cool photo sharing event.

Anonymous said...

I just can't believe it. It all just seems like yesterday. Just think we got married 8 years ago today and our boy is going to kindergarten tomarow. Allboo is going to highschool and coad will be a junior. It makes me happy and sad just thinking about it.

Anonymous said...

wow! and I am having a hard time adjusting to the fact that my baby is going to be starting Kindergarten soon! I love the photos of your girls growing up. Priceless and as you have girls, I do too and love that they will grow up together and continue to be friends and have one another even as grown women, the way my sis and I are.

Churlita said...

Liz,

I love my alone time, it's just that I've had kids for most of my adult life, and it's weird to think about what things will be like without them.

Egan,

I know. Pretty soon your little girl will be going off to high school.

Moy,

8 years ago? Wow. It doesn't seem like it and now your little man is off to kindergarten. Thank god we don't age, right?

Stepping,

It's also weird when they get older and they talk about things with each other before they tell you. I'm glad they have each other, though.