Gracie has just turned five. Two days ago, she asked me a question which surprised me.
"There are so many things in the world, what will I do when I grow up?", she asked, out of the blue. I still do not know what prompted that question. Some times, what goes through a child's mind, is astonishing.
As she was so serious, I replied with something I am not sure she would understand. I said, "There are many things in this world, that you have yet to learn about. As you grow older, you will learn more and more, in the things you observe, during school and what daddy will teach you. You will find something that you love doing. Once you discover what you love, do all you can to learn more and be good at what you love. That is what you will do when you grow up."
She pondered in silence before nodding her head. I do believe that she understood what I said. Whether she can remember it as she grows old, is another matter. I am making a mental note to have this conversation again when she is older.
After a while, Gracie declared solemnly that she wanted to be a princess. I smiled. Gracie has always been fascinated by fairy tales about princesses. Gracie then wondered out loud about how she will find a prince.
"There are many princes in this world. In the many stories that daddy told you, there is always just one prince. But when you put all the stories together, there are many princes, right?"
"What is important is to be good at what you will do when you grow up. The right prince will then come looking for you. Remember, there are good princes and there are bad princes."
"Surely, you do not want a rich prince who will eat so much that he will become a fatty, five years after marriage? Or a prince who just want to dance all day and make your feet hurt? Or a prince who is good looking but squander all his money and let you go hungry?"
"So, do you want to be a clever princess? Or just a pretty princess who is not good at anything?"
"I want to be a clever princess!"
That's my girl!
"There are so many things in the world, what will I do when I grow up?", she asked, out of the blue. I still do not know what prompted that question. Some times, what goes through a child's mind, is astonishing.
As she was so serious, I replied with something I am not sure she would understand. I said, "There are many things in this world, that you have yet to learn about. As you grow older, you will learn more and more, in the things you observe, during school and what daddy will teach you. You will find something that you love doing. Once you discover what you love, do all you can to learn more and be good at what you love. That is what you will do when you grow up."
She pondered in silence before nodding her head. I do believe that she understood what I said. Whether she can remember it as she grows old, is another matter. I am making a mental note to have this conversation again when she is older.
After a while, Gracie declared solemnly that she wanted to be a princess. I smiled. Gracie has always been fascinated by fairy tales about princesses. Gracie then wondered out loud about how she will find a prince.
"There are many princes in this world. In the many stories that daddy told you, there is always just one prince. But when you put all the stories together, there are many princes, right?"
"What is important is to be good at what you will do when you grow up. The right prince will then come looking for you. Remember, there are good princes and there are bad princes."
"Surely, you do not want a rich prince who will eat so much that he will become a fatty, five years after marriage? Or a prince who just want to dance all day and make your feet hurt? Or a prince who is good looking but squander all his money and let you go hungry?"
"So, do you want to be a clever princess? Or just a pretty princess who is not good at anything?"
"I want to be a clever princess!"
That's my girl!
