This is a photo from our recent family vacation. It was dusk and the kids were wild so we took them out to the beach to run. The boys headed into the water to play while my daughter dashed back and forth trying to dodge the crashing waves.
She is a little handful. She is smart, sassy and regardless of how pretty she is, she gives the best stink-eye ever. This girl loves to play with her friends and when her friends are not around, she will make friends. She is not picky. It can be an old lady, the check-out person at the store or a gaggle of first grade boys. But more than making friends, I think she is looking for an audience. Those weeks when she continually gets on the color red, or has the “sad crayon” note come home from school, her teacher shakes her head and with a resigned look she says, “She’s just going to grow up to be on television, I’m convinced.” she smiles.
The one thing I worry about her is that she is a bit of a chameleon. If her friend is afraid of water, she will pretend to be afraid of water (if that friend is older or has a bigger personality). She goes along, picks up on irritating habits from the boys and is all around impressionable. But she is five. I guess all kids are impressionable.
I’ve been talking to her about being her own person and I hope that she’ll listen. Clearly she is a bit too young to really understand, but so long as we keep talking about it, I hope she will take my lesson to heart. Especially since I’m a self proclaimed “non-conformist” and have been forever, I hoping my daughter will grow to be the same. It kept me away from drugs, alcohol and most negative influences. I want her to grow into an independent, smart girl who thinks for herself.
She is my wild crazy fierce little girl and I love her. I only hope she doesn’t age me too quickly.
Jacqueverse 