I'll have 2 sweeties, Mum.

There is an excellent programme produced by the BBC called "Child of Our Time" which is following the lives of 25 children born in the new millennium until they are 20. It's not been on so frequently the last few years although I've just discovered I've missed 2 episodes in February - rats! Apart from getting to know the children and parents it has always been very interesting as they research "are we born or are we made."

One experiment I always remember involved the kids aged around 5 (I think) sitting in front of a bowl of sweeties. They were told they could have one sweet now or, if they waited 10 minutes, they could have two sweets. To a man they took the one sweet now thankyouverymuch. Proving that children are all about the NOW and not so good at thinking about a point in the future. Even if that point is only 10 minutes away! It's apparently why teenagers can make such bad decisions,  that cause-and-effect part of the brain isn't formed properly yet.

Where am I going with this? Well, on Monday night I realised it's the end of year summer disco at school next week. Would Chookie like a new outfit? Yes please,  Mum, can I have denim shorts with leggings and a new tee? No twirly dresses this year!  So off to the Next website we went. And that's where the problems started.

See, she spied these knee high lace-up boots and fell in love with them. And they were out of stock. So we had a lookie about and found proper Converse versions, only they are £60. Which is a lot of money when your feet are still growing. This is them.

So we had another wee lookie about and found very similar ones for £25. That's more like it! And when I went to order them? They were ALL in China or Hong Kong and would arrive after the disco. Plop. So we looked again for an alternative. And she rather likes these.

Now, it's her birthday next month and after a bit of a chat, Spouse and I decided to offer her the Converse that she really, REALLY loves as an early birthday present. I explained that she'd need to try them on in the shop and they wouldn't be here til next week. Which was fine. And then I explained that what the problem might be was her very skinny calves. I have problems myself with knee high boots being loose and I'm an adult - she's not-quite 11 and wearing adult sizes. And she has legs like matchsticks. But I explained (again!) that as long as she realised they might not fit and we might struggle to get a replacement in time for the disco (we'd get something - just not something as cool as these) then we'd totally go for it.

And then she did it.

She looked at me all thoughtful like. And said,

"Hmm. I have got very skinny legs. Okay. Forget the Converse coz I really want cool boots for the disco. Can I get the punk teddy ones? I'll save up my birthday money for the Converse coz it doesn't matter THEN if they don't fit."

My jaw may have hit the floor. Coz 6 months ago (hell, last week!) she would have sworn the Cons would be fine and fit and just get them please, Mum. She is just growing up so much just now. It's kinda nice but kinda sad, too. And she's got cooler boots than me.

P.S. All fingers crossed please that the damn things arrive in time after all that!!