So grown up ... and still so credulous.

We hinted to Kid that she might make out better in the birthday gift department if she cleared out her stuff a bit. (This sounds mean, now that I'm typing it. But the reality is that she has a lot of crap that doesn't even quality as toys (detritus she collects like receipts, string, origami paper, conference tchotchkes – padfolios, lanyards, etc. ... ) and if we're going to buy her stuff for her birthday, she needs to toss some of the crap to make room for the good stuff! ) Well, she has embraced this activity with a fervor - I'm guessing that she assumes there is a ratio of stuff tossed : potential new stuff to take its place. She came in an announced she is getting rid of her shopping cart. I pushed back – she plays with it every day! She said it is babyish. I reminded her how often she plays with it. I said maybe to hold off for a few months and see how she feels then – like, until Christmas. And she nodded and said ok ... and she added "maybe Santa can give it to someone else." She's too old to play with it, but still little enough to think Santa can pass it on. My heart breaks a little at times like this – realizing that she is on the precipice of little / big kid. (This happens a lot when I am clothes shopping for her lately – she is between departments! Little kids clothes are up to size 6. Size 7 and up looks way too teenager-ish for her.) Then she said maybe he can give it to someone who can't afford nice toys. Bless! So sweet sometimes. I must remember these moments when she is sassing me in her [frankly, more common] 6-going-on-16 state.