Usually, when my 11 year old daughter hands me her iPod, it's because she wants to download a new game or a song. As she doesn't have her own password, all downloads have to get past me. It's always a bit of a standoff. Cue Music.

So, on Monday, when she handed me her iPod after school - as in, actually walked up to my office to lay it on my desk - I figured the customary hand-written "Wish List" with games and songs, which would normally accompany such a gesture, was simply delayed. 

I was wrong.

"Harper, I'm not adding anything right now. Give me a list and I'll review it."

"No, Mom. I'm giving it to you. I have to give it up for 24 hours."

Red flag.

"What happened?"

Hesitation.

"I forgot I had a test today."

Cue inner monologue, "GEEZE! THE SCHOOL DOESN'T PASS OUT THOSE FANCY PLANNERS FOR NOTHING!"

Relax. Must rephrase before I verbally vomit on my daughter.

"You didn't write it down?"

"I forgot."

This has been a bit of a hic-cup lately. Not writing things down. This, from the kid whose mother writes out a to-do list everyday and keeps a color-coded Google calendar. Religiously.

"OK, well, thank you for being honest and giving up your iPod. It's mine for 24 hours." Pause. "So, how'd you do on the test?"

Longer pause. Followed by a smirk.

"I aced it."

But, of course.

"Really?!"

"Yes. But I can't have the iPod back, right?"

I didn't have to answer. But in case YOU are wondering, and perhaps have been known to falter on follow-through, NO, she did NOT get her iPod back.

Combine this scenario with a recent discussion on the subject of friendship, during which my 11 year old uttered some profound thoughts and discoveries, and you've got a Mom who is seeing her daughter in an entirely new, GASP, mature light. 

I know we all fear the "he/she is growing up so fast" part when it comes to our children, but let me assure you that THIS development in the "he/she is growing up so fast" part, is very cool.

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Joline Pinto Atkins is an actress who also uses the web as her world-wide stage and can also be founding writing at The Cuppa Jo, and is the founder and a contributor at Daily Fast Fuel. Joline is wife to one (phew - that's good to know) and mother of two amazing children, aged 11 and 7, who are both named after authors. Addicted to fitness, she is an Independent Team Beachbody Coachand sweats out any daily angst by exercising and P90X'ing, and longs for good books, vats of coffee, and an endless supply of buffalo wings - which she will not share with you. So, please, do not ask.