Today I’ve been reflecting
On a conversation I had with a ex-work colleague some time ago.
Knowing me to be a doting dad, she always asks after the cubs. I give her updates whenever we catch up.
I take great pride in recalling a recent shopping trip my daughter and I had, where the command of the morning was that the only way to make progress through the shopping mall, was by stepping on rectangle floor tiles and only rectangle floor tiles. She was quite specific in this.
We held hands, shopping bags evenly distributed and made our way gingerly through the centre.
We moved with the accuracy of a Suisse timepiece. A watching Police Officer nodded his approval with a smile, whilst a retired couple commented that ‘it may take us a while’ to get where we were going.
We don’t care. This was our moment and where was the harm?
All was going well until we happened upon a large area of circular tiles. Our expedition ground to a halt. Very, very poor and inconsiderate architecture. What were they thinking?
We stood in contemplation for what seemed like an age, before I turned to her and asked, well now what?
We decided to turn back. Rules are rules.
My ex-colleague seemed puzzled. ‘Sounds like she has you wrapped around her little finger!’
Perhaps, I smiled.
I then told her that we dance a lot too. It doesn’t matter where we are. If we hear good music, we dance. We’re quite uninhibited.
‘You do realise’ my colleague said, ‘that you’re setting the standard to which she will judge all men…’
Yes I do.
‘She might be disappointed if her partner doesn’t respond to her needs in a way that she’s become accustomed’
Perhaps.
But my daughter will also know her worth. She’s not a princess; she’s a determined individual. She will know that if her partner doesn’t give her butterflies in her stomach, knows effortlessly how to make her smile and is comfortable enough to show her his true feelings, then he’s probably not the man for her.
I’m sure I’m not growing a monster so for now, we dance, we pathfind and we make memories. This is what life is about.
After all; she is only 8.
BSD
broke-single-dad 