Why didn’t anyone send me an e-mail or call me to let me know that it was National Estrogen Week? With two girls at home, and me with PMS, I think someone should have let me know. Jia cried and whined all day one day for several reasons. She was very upset because she can’t wear “big girl clothes” like “Camela and Melissa,” Carrie’s 16 and 18 year old daughters. Then, she literally cried herself to sleep because her arms were too short. Arms that are too short? What? I told her that she was beautiful and that God had made her perfect, but she still felt like her arms were too short! As soon as she awakened from her nap, she asked (first words out of her mouth) if we could go to the mall. I told her that I would take her on Thursday, but that we couldn’t go that day. She cried for a good solid hour off and on. I finally got her settled, and Kitty came home from school.

Kitty had asked me the night before how old she would have to be to wear a bra. I told her probably fifth or sixth grade. She pushed it down to third, and to get her to go away and think about something else, I told her that I would discuss it with her dad. Dumb move! She then asked if I would ask her dad if she could do it now, in second grade. What? I do think that my mom had an excellent idea. She suggested that I get her a bra and make her wear it everyday until she begs not to. I mentioned it to Rowland, and he responded quickly with a resounding “NO!” The next morning, Kitty cried and cried because I had laid out her clothes, and she wanted to wear something different. I really didn’t care except that she had begged for the outfit just a few weeks before. She told me that she had already worn it to school once, though, so she needed to pick out something different. What? I didn’t know we only wore clothes once around here!

I’d like to say that these were just random happenings, but they’re really only small examples of the strange estrogen flying around our house this week. I did give in to Jia’s pleas, though, and we went to the mall yesterday for a few hours after her Chinese class. She picked out a couple of outfits at Children’s Place after we got into a discussion about what she likes and doesn’t like in clothing. I picked up the coolest washed-out pink corduroy jacket with fur on the collar, and she DID NOT like it. She said that she really liked more “Rock and Roll” clothes. What? After shopping, (my favorite activity, too), we were headed home. Proving that she is truly connected to me genetically, she said, “Momma, when we get home, can we lay down together and take a short nap?” Oh, yes, my princess! You are my child! Shopping and a nap in the same day! HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY ESTROGEN WEEK!!!