One evening over the weekend, I was playing with Eleanor in my room. Inexplicably, the boys were nowhere to be seen. This made for an environment more conducive to quiet conversation and hair grooming. Usually there are small male bodies flying in trajectories conducive to massive head trauma. So tranquil hair brushing was a bit of a treat.
When I finished brushing her hair, it looked like very fine corn silk and curled just a tiny bit around her face. When she finished brushing mine, I looked like I needed just a little blue mascara to finish my makeover for the 1985 We Are The World concert.
I then lifted her up to the mirror so that we could admire our work:
Me: Let’s take a look… Oh look!
Eleanor: Look!
Me: So pretty!
Eleanor: Pretty!
Me: What a pretty girl!
Eleanor: Wha pretty girl!
Me: Who IS that pretty girl?
Eleanor: It’s Mommy!
How long will this phase last? Or more accurately, at what age will she decide that I have no sense of style and cause her nothing but embarrassment in front of her friends? I need to appreciate this while it lasts.

Oh, that is so sweet. What a treasure she is! I can’t wait for Fiona to talk… :-)
Typically it doesn’t start until they are teenagers and think you are dumb as a brick and don’t know anything….gah. Espcially about fashion. Your description of your boys had me laughing. I had girls but now have two grandsons. Boy really ARE different. They are hard wired for motor sounds and high octane energy. Whew.
Coco
I hear it can start as soon as middle school. Cherish every single minute of it while you can get it! Little girls are the best.
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
That’s adorable. Toddler Child still tells me how “handsome” I am…
I love this age!
That’s so sweet I can’t bear it – I’m melting! Give her a squeeze for me.
Love you,
Mom
Oh hush. She’ll be borrowing your belts and makeup until she moves out and you know it.
See, people like you are the reason I will someday cave and make babies. Are you in cahoots with my mom? You are, aren’t you?
Kate, that is so sweet!
My boys still think I’m pretty but they do cringe with embarassment whenever I sing.
I don’t so much see this as disrespect as a good ear for music.
That is so cute. Bunny loves to brush my hair and put barrettes in it. I love those moments.
I’m sure you have ten years left, at least. I just love the name Eleanor.
I won’t tell you that my son told me my butt is big. The good thing is he doesn’t yet see that as a negative. Just a fact.
I LOVE this phase-
thankfully my son is still in it…
my girlfriends have told me he will remain in it, at least a little, until about 12, when there will be a knock at the door and a little girl with a high voice will ask me if my son is home… and everything changes…
(sob ;).
My son Jack just told me that I’d be more pretty if I wore more make-up and a nice necklace. Of course, he also thinks I should wear his Darth Vader helmet to the grocery store.
Cute!
I do the same thing with my female dog, but I don’t have the same “awwww” inspiring outcome as you.
Kate, it comes and it goes. I finally have it back now that Grace is seven. She thinks I am the prettiest girl in the world. We go for peddies and talk now. It’s bliss. I dread her hating me in a few years.
Eleanor sounds like a treasure!
Sweet.
My kiddo told me, “Mummy handsome” today.
I thought you had to be at least 40 for that…
My eleven year old son leaps out at me saying ” I lurv vous” at the most unexpected times so wiht any luck you still have plenty of years of unfettered affectin to come!
I am hoping that I will be the cool mum that she always wants to hang out with – somehow I doubt that is going to happen! I love my daughter grooming me!
I think you have until junior high. Then you will be sooooo lame:)
Aww..if only all kids said things like that more often! :)
Aww, Kate! Love this!!!
That is so sweet. If it is any consolation, my 18 year old would still say the same thing:)
so cute! updated pics soon please!
I don’t know. Just love every minute of it!