Hello Trixie!

Today, as with every other day, I was listening to Lily play an elaborate game of pretend with her dolls and toys. Today it was tea with Casey, who is a Barbie doll and a baby doll called Baby. They were shopping and having a tea party. But, for the first time today someone was in attendance that was not represented by a physical object. Her name was Trixie and according to Lily was a human girl that was her friend. She would come to her birthday party and bring a gift. I didn't think much of it and she didn't mention her after the game stopped.

And then this evening, while in the bath, Trixie came to play again.

"Who's Trixie?" Bob called out.

"I think she's imaginary?"

"No, she's from My Little Pony. One of the little ponies."

"The three little sisters? That doesn't sound right. Ask her."

"Lily," Bob began, "What colour is Trixie's hair?"

"Blue."

Smug look at me over the cat-walk.

"Is Trixie a pony?"

"No Daddy! A hoo-man!"

And so it unfolded that Trixie is a four year old girl with blue hair and green eyes. She apparently got her cutie mark bath towel from Target and had already hung it next to Lily's Tinkerbell one on the hook. She also needed tucking in and a kiss goodnight.

And I'm happy to welcome Trixie into our house.

According to this article on Psychology Today, Lily is one of the 37% of children, most of whom are oldest, only or have restricted television viewing, that have imaginary friends. She is more likely to "be less shy, engage in more laughing and smiling with peers, and do better at tasks involving imagining how someone else might think." The last two qualities are qualities that Lily has had for the longest time. Empathy is definitely one of her strengths. I hope this new friend helps her combat her shyness.

This is one parenting adventure I'm really looking forward to!

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/singletons/200806/imaginary-friends-any-in-your-house
http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-preschool/article-826297-the-real-reasons-kid-create-imaginary-friends-t/
http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-normal-for-my-toddler-to-have-an-imaginary-friend_11537.bc

On further reading there's blue haired pony called Trixie that makes an extremely brief appearance in Equestria Girls. Our Trixie is otherwise different, having green eyes, being a little girl (Lily knows the ponies are "grown ups") and displaying already thought out likes and dislikes. She's currently tucked into bed with her dolly on Lily's bedroom floor.