'S Up?

Somehow my 13 year old daughter has turned into a hat-wearing rocker. Yes, you know the one; the avid reader, piano player, former Littlest Pet shop collector (FORMER, she would say), sweet quiet girl in her church youth group, straight "A" student since she started walking, and still likes us to come up and tell her goodnight. Yup, that one.

It all started with her obsession over a hat. She wanted one of those big billed hats that you see 13 year old boys with baggy drawers wearing. I was a bit shocked, but my instincts told me to let her get the silly hat. We went to the mall and she chose a CMU big-billed hat. She put it on in the store, and I really can't describe the face I must have made. Maybe somewhere between pain and train wreck, I'm sure. She tilted the brim to one side, lifted up her chin and said to her mother, " 'S up?"

Oh, great, I thought, as we left the store, somehow believing this latest fad choice would pass and we'd be back to normal. No chance so far. She is still obsessed with her CMU hat and in fact, wears it to school every day. I think it's ridiculous, her friends love it, and no other girls have copied her so far. ( I see that as a bad sign, she sees it as a good one)

I often come up behind her and knock it off her head and say, "OOPS!" Steve took it one day, put it on top of a bookcase, and there it stayed for 4 days while Nat was oblivious! Must be nice to be 13, right? She finally spotted it one day, and plop, back it went onto her head. She wears it with every outfit, no matter if it matches or not. She looks at hats on the internet and posts her favorite ones on facebook. What's a mom to do? It could be worse, truly.

It could be the Mork and Mindy suspenders I wore to school every day when I was her age. It could be gold snake belts and big hair. I'll take the hat, I guess, but I'm still hoping one day it gets put in the back of her closet with the Littlest Pet Shop stuff and my suspenders.

Lately she's been taking her electric guitar and amp to school to play for people at recess. A boy walked by and said, "I know what's missing!", took her hat and placed it upside down on the grass beside her. Next thing you know, she's made a buck and a half! Too funny, I know.

So she's not only into wearing her silly hat, but she plays her guitar non-stop! She has taught herself songs, chords, licks, you name it. She played it in class the other day and a couple of boys sang the lyrics, cracking up the entire class. Yeah, she's my quiet one. The one who despite her shyness, loves all the attention she's getting lately.

And what does mom think of that? It could be worse! The kind of attention she seeks is based on her talents, so I guess I'm okay with that. Once in awhile, I just look at the individual she is becoming and I just smile. She really knows and likes herself, and there's no stopping her when she sets her mind to something.

If only she'd just take off that ridiculous hat....dude.