My Best Girlfriend

Meet my BEST girlfriend! Every girl needs a BEST girlfriend; don’t you think? I just spent a few days with mine, and on the long drive home, I reviewed the list of life-lessons I learned from her about being a friend. Top 10 reasons my 5 year-old granddaughter Madilynn is my BEST girlfriend:

1) Maddie is giddy with anticipation when she knows we’re going to see each other, checking in every day the week before my visit to make sure I’m still coming.

2) When we talk, Maddie listens with no distraction, never planning in her mind how she will respond – just relishing the conversation and our time together.

3) Maddie has other girlfriends she likes to spend time with, but she always includes me in their play. Clearly I have nothing in common with Maddie’s other girlfriends, but that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t occur to her that we would not ALL be friends.

4) Maddie and her BFF’s will come with me for a mani and pedi. Even though it’s not THEIR favorite thing to do, they make the most of it and find joy in the moment. (Never mind that I introduced the BFF’s to shameful self-indulgences in their young, tender lives. I’m sorry, but I needed a back-fill on my acrylics!)

5) Maddie’s girlfriends always understand when she declines their play invitations to spend time with me. There’s no jealousy or competition.

6) Maddie is artistic, and every time she sees me, she generously gifts me one of her latest pieces.

7) Maddie adores me, and I her.

8) If Maddie makes the plans, it’s always imaginative and fun. Never just lunch, but a tea-party. Not a shopping trip, but a bike-ride. Instead of a movie, let’s pretend we’re someone else.

9) When I’m with Maddie, I KNOW that I’m special and important in someone’s life.

10) When our time together is over and we have to say goodbye, Maddie wraps me in a hug and tells me she doesn’t want me to go. Like most friends, we say, “Let’s do this again” but a pinky swear means that we really will.

I love you girlfriend!