Rooney Jane: A New Age
Rooney wrote the title for this blog post, and I think it’s hilarious (her exact sense of humor) and timely, especially considering what she answered below as her current favorite movie. But not only that — age 9 truly does feel like a new age, a new chapter, a new stage of independence. She can place online orders by herself, loves to stay up late and baked her own chocolate chip banana muffins for her birthday. She is growing up!
I am usually excited that my kids are a year older, which means they are becoming more independent. This year I feel differently. This year I want her to stay little, to not have friend problems at school or learn swear words or compare her body to others’. But I can’t protect her from the real world — I can only try to prepare her for it.
Last weekend she had an online Roblox party with nine of her friends from school. We delivered goodies bags to all the girls beforehand and then they chatted online while playing Roblox together.
Today she woke up to streamers, balloons, cards and gifts from us, and chose IHOP for dinner tonight. It was a good day!
INTERVIEW
Recently I asked her the same questions I ask her every year around her birthday. Please enjoy and get to know my kind, sweet daughter:
Grade in school: third grade
Favorite color: hot pink
Favorite toy: iPad
Favorite fruit: strawberry
Favorite movie: “The Croods: A New Age”
Favorite food: pretzels from Applebee’s
Favorite outfit: fuzzy pink sweatshirt and jeans
Favorite board game: Monopoly Junior
Favorite animal: unicorn, zebras & flamingos
Favorite song: “Mood” by KIDZ BOP Kids and “Therefore I Am” by Billie Eilish
Favorite book: ”Sisters” by Raina Telgemeier
Best friend: Ailey & Ellison McNatt
Favorite thing to do outside: build snowman & go sledding
Favorite drink: raspberry lemonade
What do you like to sleep with at night: uni-whale (narwhal)
What do you want to eat on your birthday? Roblox donuts
What you want to be when you grow up? teacher, because then I just get to be the boss of everyone
What’s something you want to learn? cursive
What are you looking forward to about being 9? it’s my dad’s favorite number … also, when am I going to get a phone?
What was your favorite memory of being 8? it’s my mom’s favorite number and it’s even and I like being even
What are you scared of? the dark
Favorite chore: starting the laundry
Least favorite chore: putting away laundry
Favorite class at school: math and reading
Bedtime: 8:00 pm
Shoe size: women’s 8.5
Favorite thing to do with mommy: tickle and read
Favorite thing to do with daddy: bike and tickle
Favorite thing to do with Finch: play Roblox
Favorite thing about yourself: I’m a good reader and bossy
Favorite nickname: Roo
What are you looking forward to? hopefully having a nanny again for summer
If you could get anything for your birthday, what would it be? a laptop like Quinn’s
What are you good at? monkey bars
How many teeth have you lost? 8 (plus one pulled)
How many loose teeth do you have? 0
Favorite restaurant: Applebee’s and McDonald’s
Favorite TV show: “Green Eggs & Ham” and “Nailed It!” and “Alexa & Katie”
Favorite sport to play: softball
Favorite sport to watch: soccer and basketball
Happy birthday, Rooney! We love you so much!