I have been going through a lot of self doubt the past couple weeks. My daughter's mother (my ex wife), and I are having to go through a mediator to determine their school next year. It is truly sad that we can not talk about things but given the past it is almost impossible - hopefully things will improve in time.
I tease with my daughters when we play games and such, I have a saying "Boys rule and girls drool." Of course it is all in play and they change it around on me, it is all in good fun. Though tonight we were playing and my youngest looked at me and said, "Daddy, girls rule and BOYS drool!" The best part about it was her genuine smile and laugh. No matter how depressed I get or absorbed in the chaos around me, those little girls' laughs and smiles always cheer me up.
We started talking and I told them that they could be anything they wanted when they grew up. I asked my youngest, four years old, what she wanted to be - her answer was short and very matter of fact "I want to be a butterfly." No smile, no laugh, not even a smirk, she was serious. We looked on line at all the butterflies that she could be, the picture above was her choice.
I share this story because I think sometimes as parents we miss the point. We get caught up in giving our children things or we lose track of them as we deal with the "real world." My girls are happiest when we all play together, when we share stories, and when we just spend time as a family. I love watching them learn, teaching them something new, or when they just cuddle up on my lap. These things are all free, no money required, it only costs time. The time we invest in their youth will build a lifetime of memories and help provide the foundation to build a healthy relationship with your child.
My daughter touched me tonight, more than she could even understand. Her simple answer to a not so simple question reminded me of the innocence of childhood and the limitless possibilities in front of her. That brief exchange will be something I remember all my life, maybe on her wedding day I will remind her that she wanted to be a butterfly... if I had not invested the time I would have missed out on the blessing that is a child's innocence.
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