I am loving the new B.

The one who sat down with me last evening to play a game of Monopoly for no reason other than that mei mei had to do Chinese homework and couldn't play. We laughed, teased each other (especially when Mum discovered she couldn't work out how much was owing to whom if she was the banker too), learned Maths and financial smarts the fun way, and discovered a lot about each other.

The one who decided to jump into our bed on Sat night, declaring she would be there only 5 minutes and would go back to her own room ... and was still there on Sun morning. Meaning that Daddy had to sleep on the edge of the bed and Mummy froze because someone kept pulling the quilt covers with her every time she rolled on to her side.

The one who leans her head on my shoulder for no reason.

Who at 11+ still asks me to comb her hair because she's too impatient and not very thorough and ends up pulling out strands of hair or going to school with a messy ponytail.

Who engages me in random intelligent and thought-provoking conversations in the car on the way to school.

She gave me quite a few white hairs last year when the hormones hit.

And yes, she still hates exercise and outdoor activity and would rather read Tumblr posts on her iPod than hang out with me waiting for mei mei to finish a class.

And she still won't budge from her seat during Passing of the Peace on Sunday morning, because she doesn't like shaking hands and saying Peace Be With You to people (except to her fellow SS youths).

And she still won't hug mei mei or let mei mei hug her.

BUT.

Now that she's settling down and embracing adolescence, she is becoming a mellower version of herself.

If I ask her to help with chores, she will do them. (Previously she would have flat out said no or "Why?".)

She will never be the perfect child - who is? - but she's mine and I'm gonna champion her and stick by her in spite of those hairy days. God has his hand on her and I pray that she continues to grow into the woman he intended her to be.