Well, this is new... #tween

I had a shocking revelation this week. My little girl is totally a tween. Almost eight years old but mature beyond her years, my creative, sporty, and sensitive child is becoming moody. She is isolating herself more. She has less patience with baby brother, who has somehow captured a hurricane in his little toddler body. She worries... a lot. She studies and writes lyrics to songs. She wants to look stylish. She wants to understand more about love and dating - but she doesn't want to ask me.

Insert mom freak out here... I have no idea what to do with this! 

I have had several years to become comfortable with little kids. My relationship with my daughter has been extra special, and I want to walk that fine line between being #1 fan and being her mom. I want her to talk to me and always know that I've got her back, but I don't want to nag when she just needs space. I want her to love her brother and play with him without a feeling of parental responsibility. It's OK for her to be the fun one in his life, and she is not less cool for hanging out with him. She's actually one of the coolest big sisters ever!

 
Are you stepping into the world of tweens too? Experienced moms of teens... do you have any tips for smoothing out the bumps in the adolescent road?

In the meantime, I need to study up. Here are a few expert articles that are helpful starting points to guide parents through tween years:

10 Tips For Parenting Your Pre-Teen 

28 Things No One Tells You About Parenting a Tween 
("they will Google you" - I love this.) 

Parenting Tweens section on Huffington Post