Punishment for being a child

This was originally posted here on Oct. 07.

When I first met her, she was 6. She knocked on my parent's door and introduced herself. Without hesitation, she came into the house, sat down and announced that she and my mother would be grand friends. She talked without breathing for about half an hour. My mom was immediately taken with her. And, while she could talk the hind leg off a donkey, it is hard not to be.

She just turned 13 [she is now almost 15] and has fully entered the teenage phase. Her conversations are still rapid but now they are punctuated by harrumphs, dramatic flopping into chairs and eye rolling. She makes me miss being a teen when I knew everything about everything, but also want to apologize to everyone who was confronted with my attitude.

She is incredibly thoughtful and kind - to everyone who is not her brother (and at times her mother). She is very sensitive - to people's feelings and to the things people say and do around her. At times, I worry for how gentle she is and at other times I am proud to know such a brave girl who is now becoming a young woman.

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A week or so ago, I called Crazybarefeet and invited her and Maddy out for supper. I went and picked them up because the brother can now drive so has the car on a regular basis. Maddy came out of the house, got into the backseat and said "I have an apology to make". I thought "Oh no, what did she do??"

"I'm sorry I was ever annoying."

Apparently, she's had a mini me move in next door. Karma's a bitch.