Girly girls

I have been wondering recently about Chloe and her growing love for all things 'girly' (as she says!). As soon as she gets home from school, she rushes upstairs and changes into a dress (it has to be a twirly dress!). She then goes into my room and rummages under my bed to find a pair of heels. She will sometimes ask for the tiara I wore as a bridesmaid and then totter round, pretending to be a princess.

Some of Chloe's friends are allowed to use make-up at home. I think it's mostly only a bit of lipgloss and some of them have make-up for dance shows. But it still makes me uneasy. Chloe went to a friend's party and came home with a bit of make-up on - mostly glitter and a bit of lipgloss. I said to her that for a party I didn't mind too much but we believe she's too little to use make-up at home. It does worry me that she already feels the need to (in her words) 'make myself look pretty'.

Do I need to be worried? I'm sure little girls have been dressing up in their mummy's shoes and dresses for decades. And Chloe sees me putting on make-up, so why shouldn't she be curious about it? But I desperately don't want her to grow up to quickly. I already feel a little sad thinking about her 3 year old self who wanted a monster party and would choose to dress up as a knight instead of a princess. I want to foster all sides of her personality and not lose her to the pink, glittery world of 'being girly'.