Twelfth Year

Another breakthrough in my relationship with B.

She is more willing to hug and be hugged.

She asks hubby and me - "Do you love me?" and I make sure I say yes without hesitation and without trying to read between the lines.

She shares with me about her favourite band, 5SOS, and what "the family" (the fans) do for one another on Tumblr. She bought the EP on Sunday and has been playing it in the car on the way to school. I don't get the "You look so perfect standing there/In my American Apparel underwear" bit (and don't approve of the idea either!), and she knows that, so we focus on other stuff, like the complex drumming on some of the songs and the backstory and inspiration to the lyrics. I love when she invites me into her world.

I tell her she has a flair for drama - when she rolls her eyes, sighs at me and waves a royal hand dismissively. Frustrating yet funny.

So different from how I was at 12, so much her own person.

Just the other day, we had a good discussion about racism and bigotry, and I mentioned how many of our human disagreements boil down to an Us vs. Them mentality. What if there was a third alternative? What if we actually have more choices than just "I'm right, you're wrong?" How many wars might we avert? How many lives might we save?

Love that she's got a mature head for her age and we can talk these things through. I'm counting on her and her friends to lead us into a new and better future. (Of course, her reply would be "Look at all the destruction and waste your generation has left us with!")