No glow bear

I just got the girls to bed and I'm still half giggling to myself. Every night Kaeli and Paige sleep with the closet light on and each of them has a special stuffed animal that they sleep with. At Kaeli's age, it seems there is a lot of pressure to ditch the more "childish" stuff. As I was getting them in bed I asked if they wanted the closet light on. I saw Kaeli give a quick glance in Savannah's direction before answering--NO MOM, we don't need lights. I could see that both girls kind of wanted the light on, but each was afraid to admit it. I kept the closet door closed, though. Then I tried to hand Kaeli "glow bear", he's her beloved stuffed animal that she's been sleeping with since she was about 3. She still sleeps with him every night, but she said "mom, I don't need glow bear". I said "Oh, you're not going to sleep with him tonight?" She said "mommmmmmmm, I haven't slept with him in a long time". I got the hint and just said "oh, yeah, I forgot". I decided to use that as a teaching moment to tell them that no one is going to think badly of them or like them less just because of what they like and don't like or what their preferences are. Of course, adding that anyone who does judge them based on that is probably only trying to makes themselves feel better, anyway. As I turned to walk out the door, Kaeli says "OK, you can open the closet door a little bit". I can't wait to see if glow bear finds his way into her bed tonight.