I can hardly believe it myself, but it actually didn’t rain today. It looked threatening for most of the morning, but the clouds cleared away by early afternoon and I managed to get the grass cut and two loads of laundry hanged out on the line. It even got warm enough for Tage to take his bath out on the porch, something that has happened only three or four times this summer.
The day was made better still by the surprise gift I got in the mail from my “secret sister” in an exchange I’m participating in with a group of online friends — a year’s subscription of Glamour! I totally love reading that magazine, but I haven’t had the chance since the subscription my mom bought me a couple of years ago ran out. Truly a gift that keeps on giving!
Lydia has a friend sleeping over tonight, and I’ve just got them settled into bed. I don’t think there are many things sillier than seven-year-old girls. I’m especially fond of the little girl who’s staying over, so it’s been a lot of fun having her here. Earlier this afternoon she was on the verge of going home because she wasn’t getting along with one of the little girls (a largely unpleasant child, I must say) who was also playing here. I took her aside and talked her out of leaving, and at the end of our conversation, we had this little exchange (translated below):
Me: Sandra, vet du vad?
Sandra: Vad?
Me: Det är du som jag tycker mest om bland alla Lydias vänner.
Sandra, smiling half-sheepish, half-conspiratorial: Ja, jag vet det redan.
She’s such a little charmer with a hilariously clever mind and I just can’t resist her. Being clever, she figured out early on that I can’t resist her and, as any kid worth her salt would, she takes shameless advantage of it. She and Lydia get on so well, though, and they have such fun together that I’m more than happy to buy an extra bag of chips or whatever it it is that strikes her fancy on the nights she sleeps over. She’s a much, much better influence on Lydia than some of the kids who hang around here.
*Me: Sandra, you know what?
Sandra: What?
Me: Of all Lydia’s friends, I like you best.
Sandra: Yes, I know that already.
P.S. I typed too soon in my opening paragraph — it started raining about ten minutes ago. As luck would have it, though, I noticed the rainclouds in time and was able to send Olof out to get the laundry before it started.
I, too, have distinct preferences as to who my daughter hangs out with. We had the most horrendous time last year in Grade 1 – she desperately wanted to be friends with this horribly snotty and fly-by-night girl. After yet another heartbreak, I talked to my daughter about ‘best’ friends. Since then, things have definitely calmed down.
And, I agree, 7 year old girls are veddy, veddy silly!
It’s so hard when they’re attracted to the “wrong” kind of friends and you can’t really do much but just let them go through it. I get so aggravated sometimes at how worried she is about hurting this particular little girl’s feelings, when hurting Lydia’s feelings seem to be right at the top of her agenda. *sigh*