"She'll be kicking me out of the room soon enough. Let her enjoy being a little kid for as long as she likes."

Exactly.

Just as its her sister's job to be embarrassed about 9yr old thing, she's already rejected many great 5yr old things by virtue of being 9.

I was the one who had to continue to buy children's picture books for myself, 'cause its not as if my girls were young enough to want to read Trina Schart Hymen's fairy-tales or Chris Van Allsberg's picture books.

Each age slams the door shut on the previous one until well into the early 20s ( if you're lucky. )

But IMHO the saddest point is when the tickle-monster decides on her own that physical contact is less casual than it once was.

My own mum went through similar pangs of regret when I became less touchy-feely in my tweens.

Its very common. It shouldn't be rushed just because some ask "who ELSE stands to gain?"

I am aroused when girls on the streets wear their summer clothes. Does my arousal mean that they're being sexual? Should it stop?

Is my arousal a reason to argue that the girl who wants to go out and who wears what she wants to wear cannot be lauded in this choice if I endorse it? Does her choice have ANYTHING to do with me just because of how I feel privately?

I say "shame on you" to the man who wants that the children should cease to play for fear that a pedo might take pleasure.

Dante