It.

It was time, I guess. Everyone was doing it. I'd said for years that I'd wait. I wanted it to be special...something worth remembering, and not just an afterthought that would haunt me for years. I mean, I had thought about it before. Who hasn't? Especially when it's all around...you can't turn on a television without being bombarded by it. Sometimes it's subtle. Then there are times when it's right in your face, bold as can be, and it's hard to look away.

While working up the nerve, I began asking myself the usual questions. Would it be as easy as it seems in the movies or on TV? What would it feel like? Would anyone be able to tell? Am I drawing unnecessary attention? What will my mother say when she finds out? Will I regret it after the fact? And the biggest one of all: What if I like it too much?

After careful consideration and weighing all the options, I decided to go for it. It had to happen eventually, and honestly, I just wanted to get it over with and move on. It was now or never. Swallowing my pride and squelching my fears, I decided it was finally time.

I let Libbey wear lipgloss for her dance pictures. For the past four years she's looked on as her girlfriends/fellow dance mates were gussied up by their well-meaning mothers. I was the lone holdout...the mean mom...the hardcore champion of the "they're just children!" mantra...the one protesting, "My child will not be wearing make-up, thank you very much!" I finally gave in and allowed her a little color for the pictures. Now, just for the record, Libbey wears lipstick/lipgloss all the time...at home, when we're playing dress-up, etc. But never for pictures and never out in public. She's SIX, people. Yet when I went to apply the gloss to her sweet little mouth, she said, in an exasperated tone, "Mommy, I can put it on better myself if you'll let me."

Sigh...my baby's growing up on me. First the lipgloss...then her driver's license. What? There's more in between? Oh, yeesh...I'm off to have a breakdown. Sigh...
(picture of Libbey & her best friend, Bronwen, taken 5/1/08)