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Dalia and her cousin Iliana

Posted December 9, 2008 by Charlene Frias

One might wonder why a 4-year-old girl would be interested in the Jonas Brothers. I thought we were a couple of years away from the big leap from Sleeping Beauty to Hannah Montana.

But I was in for an eye opener when Dalia's 13-year-old cousin Iliana strolled in with an aura of coolness for a visit last month. I quickly began wondering where the CliffsNotes on the years ahead were hiding on my bookshelves. 

This would be Iliana’s first visit to her uncle’s house with no parents along. It was like a movie -- something like "The Summer Before High School." A girl becoming a teenager, not yet too interested in boys, but immersed in fashion, music, and shows like The Wizards of Waverly Place. At 13, she had already spent her younger years toying with fashion and designing her own clothes, managing to create a distinct style on a preteen budget. Her parents agreed on the trip because we opted to take Iliana for a tour of the Fashion Institute.

On the first day of her visit, we took the tour as planned. We stared at collections of textiles and learned they can go from a piece of furniture to a gown on the red carpet. Which prompted questions from Dalia like, "Momma, why do the curtains match that girl's dress?" We also witnessed how the same design can make its way to the face of a guitar used to accent a model on a catwalk. A day of discovery for all of us.

But Dalia was about to embark on a generational lesson in the life of a teenager, as she became Iliana’s little protégé.

The next morning, I entered into Dalia's room, and there she was, giddy with a full makeover. Hair coifed with pink bows, skinny jeans (made from her own tiny jeans cleverly clipped from the back), a striped tee, and a touch of lip gloss. The girls were sharing a headset, and singing along to the Jonas Brothers. I felt like I was glaring into the looking glass of my future, surprisingly early. But, I must admit, it was delightfully innocent and charming.

They spent time in the kitchen making homemade tortillas, went shopping for sundresses, and ate swirls of Fruity Pebble topped Pinkberry yogurt. (Iliana had seen the yogurty hot spot on an episode of The Hills, so it was a must-do.)

When it was time for Iliana to go and we were settled back into our morning routine, we noticed the warm touches that she had left behind. Origami characters, small in size but large in personality, adorned Dalia's shelves, and Dad's iPod was filled with a selection of new music. As for me - well, like any good queen of the household, I was left sweeping up mounds of teenage hair off my kitchen floor from the recent makeovers.
 
Dalia inched away from me moments after she left. I was worried she was crying in her room, so I jaunted back to check on her.

There she was, half-wriggled back into her Belle costume.

"What's up, honey?" I asked.

"Mommy, I miss Iliana -- but forget the Jonas Brothers! I just want to be a princess!"  

Whew, I thought. I've got a couple of years before I need to tuck away the princess dresses or break out the CliffsNotes.

And in the meantime, I've got a refrigerator stocked with delicious tortillas, so we can share a feast of enchiladas -- and a toast to sweet Iliana.