If you have a 5-12 year old daughter, you probably have at least heard of American Girl dolls. Chances are good, you have at least one residing in your home. I think American Girls are awesome, and am only bummed because they weren't around when I was little. What's not to love about girls who have cool clothes, determined and faithful personalities, from all different timeperiods of American history with their own books that allow you a glimpse into their times and lives. Caroline received her first American Girl doll when she was six. Her first doll, Nellie, is from the 1900's and is an orphan from Ireland that is now living in America. Caroline loves her because she is Irish and even knows how to do Irish Dancing (much like Caroline).
She received her second doll about a year later. Emily is from the WWII era and is from England, but living in America to escape the bombing of London. Caroline loves her because she looks so much like Caroline with pretty red hair.
Today, Caroline and I made the trek to the American Girl Store north of Atlanta. It was quite a drive, but was really worth it. The store was amazing. Caroline brought her Emily doll to have her hair done in a brand new hairstyle at their Doll Salon. She also had money from my parents to buy a new doll for her birthday. She went into the store thinking she was going to get one doll from the Depression Era. But as we walked through the store her eyes got bigger and bigger. It truly was a magical, wonderful store. The perfect place for a daughter and her mom to hang out together creating memories.
As we went through the store, reading about the different dolls, admiring their clothing and discussing the different time periods they lived in, it became more and more difficult for Caroline to decide which doll to pick. Finally, she settled on Molly. Molly is a part of the family that takes Emily in during the bombing of London in WWII. Caroline loves her patriotism and the fact that she wears glasses (Caroline has an appointment with the eye doctor for possible glasses in a couple of weeks) and she dances. 
I think it is so neat that each doll was chosen with a specific reason in mind ~ because of a commonality with her. Each one cherished. I asked her while we were eating lunch today, what she will do with the dolls when she gets older, (too old to play with them) and she said she will keep them for her daughter to have one day. As she is such a 'grown-up', her words went along the lines of "well, seeing as how they are collectibles, it would be a good thing for me to keep them and take care of them and let my daughter have them someday.". I'm pretty sure she isn't going to be nine this week - more like 19. 
After meeting Molly, we of course spent the rest of the day shopping for clothes. What mother/daughter trip to the mall would be complete without that????? As we made our way home, she made my day when she told me that this was such a great day, even better than a birthday party. She said partly it was because she got a new doll - but mainly because she got to spend the whole day with just me. How did I get so lucky to have such an awesome daughter?
1 comment:
They were around when I was a kid...everyone had one, and I desperately wanted one! I saved up for so long to get her. I still remember the day Molly came in the mail, in that long white box. Molly's story is a pretty neat one, too (if you have ever read the books!) I ended up with two, and my sister had two. Together we spent HUNDREDS of dollars collecting American girl doll items- the bunk beds, the desks, the clothes and accessories. Now all that stuff is sitting in my closet at home. One day, I will give them to my daughter I think. I bet she'll want to choose her own new one, though. I am rambling.
Anyway, Im happy for yall that you got to have that experience, I am sure it was a lot of fun!
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