Riley

Friday night was the strangest night I have ever had with Riley. As you are aware, Riley is tall for her age and thus looks older. Usually, she tries to act older as well. It always seems she is trying to grow up so fast (i.e. wanting to look "sassy" for her pictures on Wednesday). Well, as I was putting her to bed on Friday she started crying. She sat in my lap on the floor for a good half hour crying because she didn't want to grow up. She said she didn't want to get big and wanted to stay 6. I was puzzled as we've heard nothing but what she wants for her birthday for the past few months. As I tried to get her to tell me why, it seems she doesn't want to grow up because then she'll be too big to play in the kid area at IKEA. Now, we haven't been to IKEA in at least 6 months, but she is still afraid that when we go again, she will be above the line and will have to stay and shop with me and miss out on all the fun (I think she said something about a ball pit). Even though I was trying to be comforting and understanding, I couldn't believe this was Riley. I was worried she would soon be out of her dress up/princess phase, but I think it will here for a little longer. We sometimes forget that she really is just 6 (almost 7) and this was a good reminder. Of course, when I told Doug he didn't believe me (he even laughed) but he was glad she still wanted to be "our little girl"!