My daughter turns 11 in a week. We celebrated with friends yesterday because one of her crew is out of town for the next two weeks.
We went down to my mom’s friend’s house to swim. It was low key event but they had a ton of fun because they hadn’t swam in a year. The weather was perfect – warm enough to stay in the water but not so hot that you had to stay in the water. We really lucked out on the weather.
I made goody bags. I think I actually kind of love goody bags (I feel like this is an unpopular opinion). I just love putting them together and making them fun. I love finding the perfect treasure to fit the theme. I love watching the kids’ faces when they see what’s inside.
This year I got them lots of self care products. They are all hitting puberty and some of them are struggling with the new requirements of self care, so I got them lots of different kinds of (travel sized) face washes to try, along with a towel head band and face mask and other fun stuff.
I don’t know how many goody bags I’ll be making for my daughter and her friends. I don’t know how many birthdays she’ll be officially celebrating this way. I’m glad my son will still need my goody bag making skills for a while longer.
I’ve been very cognizant lately of how much I enjoy being the parent of older kids, and also how wistful I am for the days when they were younger. I think a part of me realizes how incredibly short this sweet spot is, and how much I’ll miss it when it’s gone. I guess much of life is living with the understanding that everything changes, of accepting it even as you fail to really recognize it.
In the meantime, I’ll take special care when I’m preparing the goody bags.
Really great choices for her age. I find goodie bags to usually be extra hard to figure out. Sort of like Christmas stocking gifts for adults … also generally VERY expensive but happening at a nibble a time.
Hurrah for differences and what lucky guests your daughter has!
I love being the parent of a nine year old. She has just gotten cooler and cooler with age and while I miss some things about toddler-dyl and little-kid-dyl, I love seeing who she’s turning into even more. She gives me book recs for goodness sakes! And she’s better at it than anyone else I know. I am happy you love it too. ❤️
Awesome goody bags! A small best friend party like that sounds perfect. I hope my daughter has a little squad like that by 9. What an incredible blessing.