The cute boy

Gwyneth, as a teenager, and George, are walking in a campground by a pond. We see a large Indian family on the beach, parents and maybe five children, mostly boys from the ages of 2 to 18, in swimsuits.

Gwyneth: Wow, what a cute boy!

George looks: Yes, that two-year-old is adorable.

Gwyneth, frowning: No, Papa. That was not the one I meant.

Boyfriend dilemma

Lately Gwenchik has been very popular in her school and quite a few boys are inviting her over for "playdates".  On the way back from one of these...
Gwen: I had such a weird playdate today.
Me: In what way?
Gwen: Can you believe it, L. asked me to be his girlfriend. I wasn't sure what to say, so I sort of ignored him.
Me: Did that work?
Gwen: No, not only that, he started to hug me. So finally I told him that I am only 9 years old and I am too young for this!!!! And I like someone else more anyways to tell you the truth.
Me: Good for you. 

It's a hard girl's life

It was 90 degrees outside today, and we saw a guy bicycling past without wearing a shirt. Gwenchik watched him pass, envious.
Gwen: I don't like being a girl.
Me: Why?
Gwen: Boys don't have to wear shirts, can pee standing up, and don't have to give birth. Life isn't fair.

Nice to be a girl

Walking around Central Sq in Cambridge ...
Gwen: It is nice to be a girl.
Me: Why do you think so?
Gwen: Girls can wear skirts or pants, their hair long or short and any jewelry and NOT  look weird.

Crush update

As we are walking back from school, Gwenchik just gives me one word answers to all the questions about how her day went. Such a difference from just a few days ago. So I prodded about her crush (he sits right next to her).

Gwen: Well, he is no longer as fun and interesting as he used to be. I remember last year he was so much fun, but now that he is sitting next to me he is kind of average... and I think he is starting to mix with the bad boys in class.
....
Oh, the disillusionment comes so fast.

I wish...

We are walking back from school and were playing "i wish" game...

Gwen: I wish Lesha had a sister.

Me: Why?

Gwen: Then he could learn how to correctly play with girls.

Reminder to Santa

New 2007 Year! We did the proper thing of leaving a glass of milk and a cookie on our fireplace mantel; and Gwenchik actually wrote her name (with my help) in Russian and in English, in case Santa can only speak one language.
Next morning we awoke to loud whoops of joy when Gwenchik discovered the Cinderella dress on the hook above the fireplace. She was thrilled! In the evening, before going to bed, she explained to me that Santa forgot the crown and the shoes to go with the dress.
Gwen: It is probably because he is a boy, and they do not wear crowns. Mom, you have to tell him, otherwise he will forget again.
Me: I will tell him for the next New Year.

After the Nutcracker

From Veronika

We are driving home after the Nutcracker. Gwenchik and Avishka are overstimulated, so they start to get very silly:
Gwen: You are a monster.
Avi: You are a black witch.
Gwen: You are a car.
Avi: You are a tree. I run into you and smash you.
Gwen: You are a boy.
Avi (not silly anymore): No, you are a boy.
Gwen (also very seriously): I am not a boy, I AM A GIRL!

Prince dilemma

Gwenchik (a Russian variation on an old Welsh name Gwyneth) is an adorable, very opinionated, and lately obsessed with anything having to do with princesses, 3.3 year old daughter. About a month ago, while picking Gwenchik up from her childcare, to my question: "How was your day?" 
Gwen: Mom, I have a dilemma.
Me: Dilemma? What does that mean?
Gwen: I don't know, but I need a prince. Lesha (the love of her life for the moment) wants to be a Lion and not my prince.
Me: What about Shane (another boy at childcare)?
Gwen: Oh, no. He can't be a prince, because he still wears a diaper. Princes do not wear one. Ira asked him, and I tried, but he doesn't want to take it off.
Me: What about Osya?
Gwen: Mom, he is SHORT! There are no short princes. So now I am without a prince.