The opinions of a 9 year old...

Mini-Me deemed this birthday the "Best Birthday ever!" She had had a depressing week (for her) and was so excited to be celebrating her birthday. She received some new "Groovy Girls" and a new Game boy game -- but more important: we celebrated her.

Which was perfect timing, because she ran a fever over the weekend and we thought she might have had strep throat. But her brother and sister had been tested and the tests were negative. So we waited it out. That was when the tummy bug hit.

I had told her that we would have a "Date" where we would talk about grown up stuff. She was sick on Saturday - but when she started feeling better on Sunday she was insistent that we have our date.

I had determined that it was time to have "the talk" and also to talk about the fact that she was going to start growing up physically. But in reverse order. I'll spare the details because she might read this and be embarrassed - and I wouldn't want to do that.

I will say that I was a bit scared when she started to cry. She did not want to grow up.

I almost didn't talk about anything else -- but decided to keep with my game plan.

I had read the tale of a Mom who had gone before months ago and sought out the book "Before I was Born" from this series. It's a story book format that allowed me to read a story - and then talk and answer questions.

Despite her chagrin about growing up, I was committed. We were painting fingernails and having chocolate. What better time to talk??

I talked and read and she listened and her jaw hit the floor.

"That's G.R.O.S.S.!!!!!"

Got to love the opinions of a 9 year old.