Girl’s Life

This weekend I’m single mommin’ it. OK, so you can’t really call me a single mom, as I’ve only spent the last 30 hours alone with Sophia. But you can call me tired. I think ragged would also be a safe description at this point.

Chris is away for the weekend with a few friends indulging in all manner of his favorite vices (read: things I rarely let him do here): playing hours and hours of video games, sucking out processed cheese product from a can, eating pounds and pounds of pork (Nothing against pork. It’s the pounds and pounds part I usually veto.) and generally having lengthy and in-depth conversations about the magic skills and health of any number of virtual characters. Did you trail off on that last part, too? Yeah, that’s where he usually loses me.

Anyway, the point is not that my husband is geekin’ it up old school with his college buddies. It’s that he’s not here. It’s just us girls. And yes, I’m a little tired from Sophia’s early morning dance party (the girl seriously woke up bouncing at 6:00am), but ultimately I’m pulling this whole thing off! Sophia and I have never spent this much time alone together. Chris and I have tag-teamed this parenting thing from the start, and I’m rarely without an extra set of hands, or more importantly, nostrils. (”You smelled it first! You’re cleaning that!”) So what would I do with a whole weekend for just the two of us? There’s only one thing I could do: dedicate it to all things girl.

We’ve packed so much estrogen-infused girlishness into the weekend so far (shopping, princess dress-up parties, cotton candy) that I’m afraid all we have energy for tomorrow is maybe an old Meg Ryan flick and some pigtails. (Girly enough? Maybe we should stick with Beaches and a pillow fight.)

Here’s a little secret: I never was into really girly things. I play soccer, I’m too tall for most heels and, let’s face it, I have three brothers. But having a daughter has brought out that pink and frilly side of me that normally stays hidden. And I have to say, it’s been eye-opening and fun. It’s not that Sophia is all frills and bows herself. She’s quite content in her jeans and Vans, playing with her Batman action figure. But slap a princess dress on her and give her a wand, and she is 100% girly to the core.

I think we’re both starting to find our balance with all this. I guess it’s the side of me that likes watching Gilmore Girls as much as 24. And I have to say, there’s definitely nothing wrong with femininity with a little edge and personality. I’m still working out the kinks, but Sophia’s got it nailed, and, of course, always has a purse to match.