"Oh, my, this one has attitude!" exclamed the delivery nurse. Who may have been saying "here's another one" to the tired, adrenaline-rushed parents of this newborn creation ..... of theirs.
A mixture of disbelief and amazement as this gaze upon this near perfect little human girl. Minutes from being in a warm, comfortable womb. Indignant at the harsh introduction she hadn't anticipated she let out a howl.
This little beauty grew and grew: and sang "take me out to the Ball Game" at a mere 16 months. As a party favor, she blasted through the adults polite conversation, as their jaws dropped and gaped open at a special experience unfolded. Discussion began. How amazing is it that a little burst of energy could sing to the rafters, in such abandon, glorying in the musical flutes her own tonsils gave. Oblivious to the expressions of anyone around her. She liked bursting out and singing. Her abandon to anything akin to self-conscious expression. The audience crossed between envy and awe. How could such a little thing stand up, be so proud, and sing with such abandon? At ONLY 16 months.
The parents who were always ready with a video camera were stunned into inaction. The musical notes combined with gusto and self-exuberance. How could they have created such a ... umm... creature? Alas, it was a daughter. They should have had their seat belts tightened. Yet they didn't do anything. Why should they? They weren't puppeteers, merely creators.
They wondered, however, how can they take credit for such a beauty with such a powerful voice?
As the little girl developed and continued to grow became as ever a sight to behold. At 2, this confident, clever, creation would insist that she was a princess. Her hard-working mother and father fascinated, would wonder: how could a princess be born and insist she was one. They were, although not average folk, wondered how they could be responsible for this envisioned little lady?
Then, one day, when the father was away at work, slagging dragons called life and career, the mother bent over a captive keyboard for job. A nanny, on call, living out, ever present, vacuuming the castle always to shine, was focussed on leaving a tread in the carpet, hadn't noticed her charge, who had transformed into an escapee to her mother's home office. Sneaking in, quietly, taking and absorbing every last detail. Alas, the mother noticed the scamp in her midst. The little joy did ask: "Mommy, what are you doing?"
Lest the mother cause disillusionment of the responsibility of working and career, she tenderly said: "I am working. When you grown up, you will likely work too. What is it that you think you'll do too?
The predictable reply did unfold "why, when I am grown up, I will be a princess!" Said with such convincement, less mortal men or mothers would never argue. However, the mother did sigh. She then glanced around, realizing that the King was not home nor was the princess' guard on command.
She did try to dispell the disillusionment which chance had burst, said to her darling daughter with such thirst, for life, for dreams, goals and confidence: "why Sweetie, you will be princess when I am a queen!" Rationalizing that being realistic of drastic importance.
Then to her utter dismay her daughter did respond: "Why mommy, I didn't know that you were a queen!!"
The days grew onwards and upward the girl grew, when tragedy did brew. The media, the news, the television, no matter how one flew, protested the death of a princess many thought they knew.
When dinner one day, was being prepared by her mother. As the news and the television broadcast the cover: A princess died while so many fed .. on the photos, paparazzi with the princess photos they led. How sad to have such a wonderful soul cut short, would end up causing this young four-year-old lady to retort: "That is so sad to hear about the princess."
The mother, astonished, that this little girl wisdom, attuned to the news and the stories that bloomed. She asked her daughter, in parenting skills on high alert, how do you feel about this story? The daughter said "Sad". The mother now curious, nowhere near mad. Asked her little one why would she say so. When the gem said "well, I am a princess, so this one I should know".
This is a reflection of a mother, rediscovering the journey she started with her daughter. She has just turned 23, in second year of university, dedicated to fine arts, art history and philanthropy.
A mother's pride never diminishes with age. If anything, it flourishes as cheerleading captain of her daughter's journey.
Happy Birthday sweet, beautiful daughter O mine.
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