Diva Daughter

My worst fear has been confirmed: My daughter Julianna is a budding diva. I am not quite sure how this happened. But when she turned 3, she went from being a cute little girl to being a full-blown princess-in-the-making.

My daughter happens to be a great sleeper (thank you God!). So when I put Jules down to bed the other night, I trusted that she would be out in just a few minutes. As usual, when I looked in her bedroom half an hour later, there she was fast asleep with her hair tied in a pony as she snuggled with her teddy. Yet, when I opened the door the next morning to wake up my daughter for school, I couldn't believe the transformation. Laying in her bed still asleep, my baby girl was covered in bling— around her neck, wrist and tiny fingers. Besides looking like Joan Collins, Julianna also had her Barbie pocketbook on her arm. Upon close inspection, a pink cell phone was peaking through the zipper. Her sweet teddy from the night before was lying on the floor, no doubt wondering as was I how our young, sweet Julianna turned into a 30-year-old soap opera actress wearing pink froggie pajamas. I mean, this young thing got out of her bed, sorted through her collection of fake jewelry and purses, dolled herself up and went back to bed. WOW!

I know little girls dream of being a princess, but I had no idea what I was in for. Julianna's clothes have to match, down to her underwear and socks. We are a force to be reckoned with when we enter a mall. Jules looks at clothes, pocketbooks and shoes, commented on everything. “Oh, how BEAUTIFUL!” “Mom, this is pretty!!!” I think going shopping with my daughter is a riot; my husband thinks the riot happens when the credit card bills come in the mail. I know this is only the beginning. Next our daughter will be wearing heels and makeup. And I will be left holding my husband's hand, as he tries to breathe.