One night while I was snuggling in my bed with a book and Isabella had snuck into the bed for some special time, she came up with some revelations. I was trying very hard to keep a straight face through all of her heartfelt comments. Since we have been using our Health portion of schooling to talk about bodies changing and keeping them healthy, she apparently has a lot on her mind.
"I think you know a lot about growing up and life. One thing that worries me, I am not sure if I can pick a good person to marry. Maybe you should just tell me who to marry so I do not make a mistake."
"Sweetie, I can not pick the right person for you. I can only advise you and give an opinion of what I think. However, you have to choose who God wants you to marry and if that person will make you happy."
Later when I share that with Karl, he says she needs to repeat that into a pretend microphone for a recording. He apparently thinks picking her future is a good idea. This from the same man who has begun to warn her against sailors only to have her comment, "But Daddy, you are a sailor!" Oh how I laughed as Karl and I exchanged "She got you" looks! Just when Karl is starting to squirm, she lets him off the hook with, "Daddy you must be one of the special ones!"
Back to our discussion -
"I do not understand why girls would want to shave their legs, pick their eye brows, or dye their hair. I don't need to do any of those things."
"You may change your mind one of these days." I begin to reflect on when I began to want or do all of those things. I am trying so desperately hard to not influence her thoughts by my expressions or comments.
"Well, I think I am fine the way I am. I don't need to do those things."
Oh, how I just smiled knowing how soon her attitude might just change. When I told one of my friends about her comments, she has a daughter of the same age, she chuckled saying "Yes she does not have to do those things, but she will. She will when she finds a guy she wants to impress. Let's hope it is not for awhile."
We want our children to remain as innocent and pure as possible but we know the clock ticks away and one day they will not be children anymore. It would be imprudent of me to ignore these changes, better for me to walk with her as a guide pointing out things along the way. No need to rush through life and miss the sweet moments of her discovery.
