As with most things, my daughter, Olive, has taken the slow, methodical approach to sleep-overs. She has been in no hurry to participate in them whatsoever. I, on the other hand, have been patiently (sort of) waiting for the opportunity to host a crew of giggling girls for, what I imagined in my mind, a night of popcorn eating and nail-painting. So when it came time to plan a celebration for her tenth birthday, I thought it the perfect opportunity to encourage a slumber party. She agreed! The time had finally come! For Olive. Not for me. Of course.

As a parent, obviously we notice the growth and changes and progressions our kids make. There are the clear points by way of actual milestones – they talk, they walk, they go to school, they read, etc – where they go from baby to toddler to little kids. The little kid to big kid transition, I have been a little more resistant to. Because, like I mentioned, Olive has been so methodical with her steps. She is in no hurry to grow up. And I am in no hurry for her to stop being my little girl… And so, while I’ve noticed her increasing awesomeness, it was having five fourth-grade girls (Plus Cash, who is so enamored with the ladies – he is literally a heart-eyed emoji 😍 – that he is an honorary member of the club. In his annoying 7-year-old boy way.) together in our house that opened my eyes to the magic that is transpiring.

Having not yet hosted a sleep over, I wasn’t sure what to expect. We planned the food and movie-watching, other than that, my goal was to leave the girls alone. But our house being quite small – it was more like being a fly on the wall. Resisting the desire to sit down and join them, Cash and I left the girls to their own dinner party. Story-telling and secret-sharing ensued. Crushes were divulged, experiences shared, and lots and lots of cracking up. Just pure joy to be in each other’s company.

It was having five fourth-grade girls together in our house that opened my eyes to the magic that is transpiring.

After a late night up watching The Sound Of Music – and a brief history and geography lesson after. I was awakened the next morning by hysterical laughing and the high-pitch chaos of five girls talking over each other. I just laid there and took in the sound bites of their board-game playing. It was a happy Sunday morning wake-up call I hadn’t experienced before.

Olive has this marble run thing that has a million parts that you use to build mazes for marbles to roll down. She has gotten it out once or twice since she’s had it, but otherwise its been left neglected. After pancakes, somehow it got taken out. The girls spent the rest of the morning working together, totally engrossed, in creating these marble runs. There were a couple of moments here and there where someone wanted a piece someone else had or the marbles were all being collected by one person or something like that, but otherwise I silently watched in awe at the collaboration and team work.

I know there is much that lies ahead in the experience of raising a girl. And I know that as girls get older the friendship dynamics can be challenging. There will be devices and social media to deal with. It’s all out there and big and scary. But right now. In this moment, my girl and her girls, are not there. They are not little kids anymore either. They are in this sweet spot. This spot where they really, truly like each other. Where they trust one another with their secrets. Where they support each other and have each other’s backs. Where they play and create together.

Rather then seeing these girls, most of whom I’ve known much of their lives, as the little girls I still want them to be, I got the amazing opportunity to see them as they are. Smart. Feisty. Funny. Loving. Badass.

There is nothing contrived or inauthentic about them. They are pure girl power.

Ever since that sleepover, I’ve rested a little easier knowing that someday – they are going to be the ones in charge.