Driving in the carpool lane.

Exposure to current trends in pop music.

Eager opinions on everything you wear, whether you like it or not.

It’s okay to leave the news on.

She’s learning about idioms and puns in school and finally gets your jokes.

Enjoys Shakespeare.

Someone else to empty the garbage.

Having reasonably intelligent conversations about current events.

Shoulders to lean on. Literally.

A larger vocabulary.

Revisiting your  girlhood through the books she reads.

Willing and able shopping buddy.

Excuse to buy stuffed animals.

Unconditional love.

My beautiful girl turned 11 on the 11^th. I am the luckiest mom on the planet.