bringing up momma

I love u, Neri.

2012-01-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

What do I do when I am sad? I turn to you. What do I do when I feel helplessly sad? I look at you and calmly let the tears roll by...You look at me, you tell me you love me and it gives me peace, fills me with love, positivity and a sense of fulfillment. So what if much of my world does not understand me. Why should I wallow in self-pity? I have such a beautiful friend......in my life. You may be just 7 but u are so much more sensitive than adults...I love you. Not only because you you care for me, not only because you love me... but because you are you.

Your price, my price, fair price

2011-12-19T01:14:00.000-08:00

I spotted them last week. Those boxes. I knew they would excite you - strawberries.
Bhaiyya, strawberry kaise de rahe ho? Ek sau bees, madam, he replied. Should I or should I not buy....I thought quickly, looking at that tiny box of strawberries. Maybe I should wait for a day or two and wait till better strawberries and maybe better priced ones too arrive, I decided. But the thought kept lingering on my mind as I knew how much you loved fruits and how eagerly you wait for the seasonal ones. As if you could read my mind, later, you said - amma, most of my classmates' favourite fruit is mango. But not mine. Mine is watermelon, strawberry...cherry! There is good news for you, Neri - strawberries have arrived in the market. VOW, yummy strawberries....:))) But, Neri, they were so costly, as it was the first day, I decided to wait for a few days and let the price come down...am sure in two days its going to come down atleast a bit.
Hundred and twenty rupees for that small box, amma. No problem, I can wait. But amma, I am shocked that a small box of strawberries cost soooooo much money. If I were the fruiterer, I would sell it for Rs 2 :D But if you sell it for Rs 2, how would u get money for your own food, Neri? I asked. Simple, when I sell it for this less, more and more people will buy the strawberries........

Maths Vs English

2011-12-16T23:07:00.000-08:00

You missed just three days of school last week. We had catching up to do....and division, 'the long method' was what was taught while u were away.
Oh God!
No problem, we will do it over the next few days, I assured you. No, amma, lets practice now. You know, all the kids, even the naughty ones who never listen to teacher can divide with ease now. I have to be perfect...:)
Okay.
And so we sat down starting with the basics - 15 divided by 3, 18 divided by 9 and then slowly moved up to dividing 93 by 2 and 58 by 3..........and many such numbers the loooooong method. After a lot of continuous practice we seemed to have reached there. Your confidence and comfort at dividing is all I wanted to see. Finally, my job was done after those two days of patient and sometimes impatient calculations, those moments of frustration when I wondered how I would be able to make you understand.......and of course those moments of excitement when WE did it.
(While trying to solve a difficult sum I gave you while I tried to complete some chore, I overheard you say to yourself - calm, calm, stay calm only then u can do it !!!!!!!! )
Done.
It wasn't as difficult as I feared it to be, I had thought. Until -

Bedtime:
You: Amma, which is a better subject - English, EVS, Maths, Hindi, Marathi etc etc....
Me: Neri, it is different for each person. Moreover, I did not have EVS or Marathi when I was studying.
You: But amma, if I talk about Maths and English, what do u say?
Me (realising that you wanted me to say that English is easier and more fun.....)
Neri, in my opinion, Maths is easier than English!
(I dont want you to develop a fear or have any preconceived notions about the subject)
You: WHAAAAAAAAT?
Me: Yeah, Maths is more of logic. You just have to understand the simple method and move on in the same direction and solve problems, while English is more about hearing and learning. Some things are unexplained in English grammar usage. But in Maths, everything is logical.
You: Amma, I knew that nanna likes numbers and you like the language, but I did not know you think Maths is easier than English...
(I did not know too, Neri, but u make me think beyond what I did till now - without imposing things on you, without succumbing to stereotyped methods of education and learning, I want you to enjoy learning and have fun all the way)

And a few days later -
AMMA, is it easier to teach division or learn division??????

A beautiful Saturday evening....

2011-11-20T23:46:00.001-08:00

Saturday. A beautiful evening spent beautifully....Your sickness confined us to our home, in an effort to give you some rest. No TV. We just cuddled up on our warm bed at 6 in the evening and ended up discussing stories. Each of us read out a story, which we had found interesting from Sudha Narayan Murty's collection. It started with you, Neri, asking me - Amma, what is your duty.....shoving that open book in front of me. The beautiful story of a daughter influencing her mother to take up social service......even more heartening was how you connected everything and wanted me to read it and feel it. Nanna found A wedding in Russia interesting..all about how Russians remember their forefathers and elders at their wedding ceremony. I read out the Story of two doctors.....how anaesthesia was first used on a doc son by his doc father to prove to the world that this was a safe method to reduce pain......and how in the process due to a mistake of the father, the son smilingly bears all the pain......

..and the topper is...:)

2011-11-20T10:40:00.001-08:00

Neriiiiiiiiii - the first term results are out. 98.6 per cent. VOW!
As I walked up to Nalini Ms and muttered...how did she perform, a booming voice replied - EXCELLENT! Excellent child of an excellent mom...VOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Those anxious moments

2011-11-17T21:51:00.001-08:00

Neri, yet another time I was reminded of how right the paediatrician is. The day you were born, he had clearly spelt out all dos and donts adn and as a final word, added - the mother knows best. Trust her instinct.
On Wednesday night, when u stepped in after taekwondo class, your eyes looked tired. You came racing up with nanna as usual, but certainly looked more than just tired. No, amma, I am just tired...dont worry, you said. But I did not think so. In the morning, your day started off normally when I dropped you off to school. But just an hour later, I got a call saying you were unwell and down with fever. We rushed to bring you back..... My head is aching, amma, you said, as I felt your forehead, which was burning. Please, amma, sit with me....you said and snuggled up to me till we reached home.
The next morning, three crocin doses later, you woke up insisting on going to school. After a lot of convincing and tear-shedding, you reluctantly agreed to stay back home.......Thank God you are better now. I would say, better, but still a bit weak. Love u.

Unpredictable moms...

2011-11-15T12:39:00.001-08:00

....this was what went on in the girls' minds when they both lost one mark for dictation today :)
One said to another: Nerika, for my first dictation I made three mistakes. My mamma did not scold me then. For another dictation, when I made just one mistake, my mamma scolded me. I wonder why. Are u going to get scoldings today? I am not sure, Harshita - amma may scold me, she may not scold me !!!!!

Oreo effect....

2011-11-09T11:47:00.000-08:00

The ad was meant to lure kids of your age :) Oreo..the creamy chocolaty biscuit which comes in an attractive blue packet is a rage among kids, specially at school - A li'l fella requests is dad to help open the packet. What will I get in return, the dad asks. The secret to enjoying orreo - the kid replies instantly...
Neri, you have probably seen this ad umpteen number of times. Maybe the initial attraction to the biscuit has worn off, leaving you thinking beyond the yummy biscuit - amma, why is it that we have to always give something in return? See, when you say please Neri, can u get me a bottle of water, i never ask what will i get in return......:D SO why did that father ask what he would get in return????
YOU think so, Neri, and rightly. But most people around may not. This only goes to show that you have a good heart.....

Let's face it

2011-10-18T01:16:00.000-07:00

When something terrible happens, you realize that every other problem seems trivial. And when something terrible happens in the lives of people you care about, it is not so easy to dismiss the thought away. And so I spent almost two hours on the phone chatting with X to get a semblance of a small laugh from her, at the end of one hour. When she called I sensed the grief in her voice. I wanted to only be a calm listener and help her feel lighter......which I hope I did. My words would have sounded empty since she had faced it all and been through it all. She had dealt with it, helped her family cope with it and here she was trying to come to terms with the harsh reality. When she was looking out for a good cousellor to help her nine-year-old cope with the crisis, another parent said - you are your son's best counselor. That is the truth - you definitely are his best counselor. See how he has come out of the situation, understood your pain and stood by his parents like a rock.......

My loss

2011-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

Oct 10, 2011. Jagjit Singh no more.
Benaam sa yeh dard
thahar kyon nahi jaata
jo beet gaya hai vo
guzar kyon nahi jaata
benaam sa yeh ...
I did not anticipate the magnitude of the loss to me. I knew I loved his voice. I knew I felt the lyroics when he sang..............but i really did not expect to feel the kind of sadness that crept into my heart when I read those words. It was a realisation of how much he has been a part of my life.

He has played a strong role in helping me understand my emotions better, respect myself more and learn to deal with emotions more independently. He is that one person who has consistently stood by me as I matured with each passing year of my life.
My treasure of his ghazals ...I am sure you will treasure too, Neri, one day.
Maine dil se kahaa -, ai deevaane bataa
maine dil se kahaa, ai deevaane bataa
jab se koi milaa, tu hai khoyaa huaa
ye kahaani hai kyaa,
hai ye kyaa silsilaa,
ai deevaane bataa
maine dil se kah
Each time I listened to him, I have wondered if he felt what we as listeners felt. Would he have shed tears feeling .........happiness, sorrow, love, despair and many a times helplessness so deeply? I will continue to wonder and his demise makes me want to listen to him more and more......
Ek khalish dil ki yeh, kya se kya kar gayi
khushiyon ki aankh mein, baarishein bhar gayi
log aapno se bhi bekhabar ho gaye,
khushbooyein chooni thi, shauk mein kho gaye
paake jugnu zaara roshni ke liye....
dil tarasta hai aab zindagi ke liye

Thin amma!

2011-10-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Finally! After almost a month we are done with the First Term Exams. I seem to be fed up of them more than you, sweetie. The Oral exams began way back and then the written exams. Apart from the usual weekly internals. I don't remember writing so many exams. Maybe you will not too, when you grow up.....!!! But I certainly will not forget YOUR exams. .....:)
In the middle of all this we shifted to A block. So now its time for u and me to together do up the place.
Ammmmmmma, guess what the paragraph writing topic was - My Mother! And the word list included thin and fat- I was a bit confused but finally chose thin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Neri, thanks for calling me 'thin' when I am still trying to be so :D

Just the beginning.......

2011-08-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

A thousand thoughts cross my mind as I sit down thinking about an incident you narrated to me a few days ago. Am not sure if you were discussing with me, asking me or just informing me......something unusual (so said you) happened in class. You are now in class II (in case you would be wondering :)). A free period is going on. Was it Drawing class or Craft (that detail seems trivial and insignificant)? All of u, it seems, were drawing in your Rough books, playing some sit down games or chatting. Suddenly, A says- Ms, what's the spelling of Nerika!! He then draws a picture in his book and hands it over to you - a girl and a boy. You are the girl and he is the boy. You see the picture, leave it at the table and excuse yourself to head for the washroom. When you get back to class he asks you if you saw the picture. You nod. Then why did you not say anything, he asks. I went to the washroom, you said.
Why do you think he did that, amma? Maybe he considers you his friend........
I discussed this with Tuhina. She said Aahan expressed happiness about M sitting next to him, excitement about seeing M in an ethnic attire (and he is just 8)......she said she teased him a bit about it to pass it off as a joke. I wonder what I should be doing.
Tonight, I asked you - so, is A your friend now. You said a clear No, with a lingering shy smile. I don't talk to him, amma. But why are you asking me? Just like that since I remembered that picture......I leave it to you to deal with this. But I will wait for you to discuss with me, and hope that you will definitely keep me informed :)))
It reminded me of your first cultural programme in Nursery, when you had to perform a Goan dance with a boy as partner. In the first few practice sessions you were not happy and you went ahead and told teacher that you were not comfortable with your dance partner. Dear Usha teacher promptly changed your partner!!! She mentioned it to me, too, later.

PS: The washroom has been an escape route for you. In your first year at school, you were petrified seeing anyone hurt or bleeding. A classmate had a bad fall and fracture. That day you sought permission to visit the washroom at least 5 times. When you mentioned it to me, I realised that you were trying to escape the pain and fear. Usha teacher was so understanding when I discussed this and she assured you and made you feel secure.

Why Mishra?

2011-08-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to pen this in your diary (this is a diary for you, isn't it?) since two-three days. You are well aware of your name - why and how we decided on christening you Neri-ka. But you wanted to know how and why we decided to call you Nerika Mishra and not Garikipati. Honestly, we did not have a choice. The need for a surname is seen everywhere and we just followed the usual norm of making you a Mishra. But,yes, maybe we could have called you Nerika Mishra Garikipati. But we would have preferred to call you just Nerika. Simply Nerika!

Life's good!

2011-08-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Neri, everything happens for the good. .....:)
Tuhina called at the busiest time of the day, 12 noon, when I get u ready for school. Chalo, lets go to Bandstand, she said. And I said: Should we? Today? ....I don't know how and when I changed from the 'always enthusiastic to go out person' to the 'happy at home' woman. It's a task to make me go out, I often hear Sri complain when I complain about us not going out!!.. This would be the third time I would be saying no to Tuhina, I thought and pushed myself out of the laid back state. And I am glad I did. It seemed like this was just what I needed at the moment. A quiet few hours at the sea.....sharing thoughts with a good friend and completely devoid of any worry about you since you were in safe hands - at school.
We only had to remind ourselves to keep track of time so I would get back in time to pick you up from school. Of course the back up plan was in place and nanna was asked to make sure his phone was on so he could reach school in case I was stuck in a jam.
As we enjoyed our cold coffees on a rainy Thursday afternoon, munching into the sandwiches, I told myself that one day I would be sitting like this enjoying the rain and the sea view with a young lady who probably would be a reflection of my personality. Me - a grey haired old (er) woman and you my little angel turned young lady. We would share our thoughts, discuss our lives and even advice each other. As I watched the sea turn from blue to dark grey, as the sky turned cloudy, it was a certain calm that I felt. I needed that feeling at that moment. Tranquility.
There was a time when I had to express my feelings - be it anger, hurt, irritation, disgust, love, hate or even boredom. Now, I don't need to do that. All I certainly need is some 'me' time. A sign of maturity in us, said Tuhina when I shared this thought with her. That's what she noticed in herself too, she said. I am not sure - life has a lot to teach and maturity is still along way away.....I am still learning.

Nanna!

2011-08-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Nanna's b'day is coming up. Since almost two/three weeks you have been busy making a 'secret' card. Am sure noone else's cards or wishes would be so full of love as yours to your nanna (Nooooooooodles!!!!!)

It's a bit difficult sometimes to appear (to you) as excited as you are....closing your door and making the card. Jumping with a startle when Nanna suddenly walks in........feeling delighted at each little writing on the colourful card. Choosing each colour and each word rather carefully....My My - nanna is going to love the final outcome.

Miss u now, Neri

2011-08-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

Today has been a rather uncomfortable day for me.....since the time I dropped you off at school. Yesterday evening you were down with diarrhoea and insisted on going to school today. There is a test today and another tomorrow too.......i just hope you are not too weak physically. Can't wait for it to be 6 and see you, Neri. :)

Memories

2011-08-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

When you suddenly asked for all your Grade 1 books, which I had neatly packed and tucked in the cupboard, I told myself - one day she will understand why I have kept them here safely. One day, when she becomes a mom herself, she will probably understand what memories mean, I had thought,...and feel the sentiments, which led me to treasure those books (just as I 'partly' understand the thought behind all the collections which people call junk, by my MIL - her memories of motherhood :) I know I can never part with the books, which have recorded my little one's little hands writing those beautiful letters and numbers and those drawings and sketches.....all my memories of the first time you wrote, the first time you added and the many stars and good (s) and excellent(s) which dotted those books. For me, those are lovely memories of my baby growing up. May be I can lend the books to someone who asks for help in notes, but never give them away...
.....WHAT I did not expect was to see you so sentimental as you flipped through the pages of each book. So immersed in those memories were you that you turned deaf to the music from one of your favourite TV shows- Sare Gama Pa Lil Champs, going on......Quietly as I saw you turning each page and smiling to yourself I knew this is the beginning of your memories - beautiful treasure of memories of your gang of four - Sanvi, Jahnvi, Aditi and you..........

Just say it.....

2011-08-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

''Some things are better said when they are left unsaid'' - whoever said this was mistaken. Definitely not for the present times. All of us learnt it today! We all wondered what trait it was in this person - apart from the visible insensitivity to others and a clear self centred attitude, which is also being reflected in the child. Not one, but six of us, adults, were left discussing how anyone could be like this. Was this crudeness or smartness? Would any of us ever have behaved like this and even gone ahead and be so demanding? Obviously not, we found each of us saying - that's why the equations had been so comfortable so far. But we could figure out one thing tho' - steer clear from such people if you don't want your kid to turn around and behave like that or ask you - why should I adjust always? Why? ?
Some things are most certainly better said - loudly and clearly to some people......:)

Dr Spock's

2011-07-30T04:58:00.000-07:00

It happened after years. I laid my hands on Dr Spock's. I remember those days when I spent almost all my little free time reading every word and every relevant page during pregnancy and post delivery. Nervousness, enthusiasm and excitement drove us to pick the book from the store; and of course the many friends who suggested and insisted as a must buy! As we look back, the loads of photographs show how much time we spent with Dr Spocks!!........and not surprisingly, must have surely been the first book Neri could lay her hands on too...and all along I kept saying Little Ms Muffet was the first book she enjoyed at 5 months of age, when here was something she enjoyed flipping through as early as a week after entering our world :P
I don't remember when I stopped turning to Dr Spock's. Probably when the confidence of parenthood r set in and most importantly, when experience taught much more... Nothing works better than experience, intuition and parenthood itself - no book and no research studies on parenting....
When I salvaged Dr Spock's from all the other fiction and non-fiction on my book shelf a few days ago, I could hardly find myself looking forward to more of it. But thank you any way, Dr Spock's, for helping us in those early days......you certainly helped.
Seven years of motherhood......so much changes in our lives. She is growing and so am I. We are growing up together each day, changing each day and learning each day....something new. We understand each other more each day and we enjoy the relationship much more with each passing day. I am pretty sure, that even after knowing each other for just these seven years she understands me and my moods better than anyone else......and for me too, its so much easier to know exactly what, how and why she feels as she does..................A silent stare, when in public, means disapproval. A grumpy look means why do I have to good always/how do u expect me to tolerate that.....and moist eyes ready to burst means 'deep hurt'. A mischevious smile means she is going to seek permission to maybe watch cartoons or eat some junk..But I am preparing myself for that time when she would have a world outside the present little family unit - and seek space. A friend's warning is at the back of my mind ...expect the least when they grow up, she had said talking about her young daughter.

Values

2011-07-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Nalini teacher. Neri, your very strict class teacher. I want parents to tell me how their wards are doing... she had said at our first meeting. Adding, don't ASK me how your child is doing.
One month later, she sent word through Neri that she wanted to meet me. I certainly had not expected her to say ALL that she said to me last Friday : ''I am extremely happy with the way you are bringing up your child. She is an excellent child. She is being brought up with values so rare. I want to tell you that I am touched seeing her.'' The words of praise went on and on, this time we, the parents, were lauded too.. Neri, good things being said about you, your behavior or studies is not new. BUT....your class teacher was neither giving me a progress report nor was she replying to any queries from me about you in class. She was only keen to tell me that she appreciated the good qualities and values you believed in and were growing up with.
Each time you ask me why is X behaving like that, why is Y so rude or why is Z saying things to hurt me, you hear me say - because their parents do not consider it necessary to teach the child these simple things. I am sure your teachers words have convinced you about the worth of our values and ways of bringing u up; so, stop giving me that silent stare. Be polite but firm in saying what you want, even if it means telling someone that they have been rude to you or imply - this far and no further. you were innocently listening to Nalini Ms say such wonderful things about u and us and the values which you have picked up.
I expressed my fears to Nalini Ms of not being sure of how how long it would be possible to sustain these values.......other kids around, the parents around may make my child cynical about these. You fear so now, she said - in the long run your child will definitely benefit.
Thank you, Nalini ma'm, for motivating me to be a good parent and make my child a good human being. I am only trying and such appreciation from a teacher like you means a lot to me.

.....honesty is the best policy

2011-07-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, when I picked you up from school, you were visibly excited to share some news with me. I could sense it from your enthusiasm, your smile on that tired face after a long day at school and your look. Amma, I have topped my class in the GK quiz round. I don't believe it, amma, ONLY I topped. Not even Ananya Roy, not even Aditya Kini!!! Why don't you believe it, Neri? You have topped the quiz and give yourself a pat on your back, I said. It would have been nice if AR and AK also topped, but this time only you did. I felt so so proud of you because this written quiz was a surprise quiz and a GK one at that. Nothing that you had learnt from text books. .....all real general knowledge!
I proudly signed the message your teacher sent to me informing me about this.
Neri, another thing happened last week which made me so happy and proud of you - there was a word play test at school during the Zero Hour. You told me about it when you came home. What made me proud of you was your honesty and your conviction. Clearly, you knew what you were doing. and that you were right. You told me - you were stuck with some jumbled letters and missed finding a word 'white'. Some kids sitting nearby had been discussing some answers and said it loud enough for you to hear. But you chose not to write that word even when it struck you that the answer was indeed 'white'. Why? Because someone else had thought of it..............

July 13, 2011

2011-07-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

Just realised ....it's been long since I sat down to write whats happening in your life, Neri. Last week was a little low - i was sick, nanna was out for some days and my comp gave trouble. Hope to fill in atleast some details of the happenings for u!
Where do I begin? The blasts on the 13th. Had dropped u off at taekwondo class with the other kids who have recently started joining u. just when nanna left home to pick u up and do a bit of shopping before that, tata-ammu called to make sure all was fine. The blasts.
The class was let off early. Panic struck again......in all our minds. Specially the kids. As usual, the next morning, the first question you asked was - have they been caught? The terrorists? I l knew that if i had said yes you would have felt relieved. But i could not lie to you. Not even a white lie. I wondered what kind of a world your generation is growing in. Life was so much better when we were kids.
Blasts. This time everyone including media talked of the helplessness, which had till now been termed resilience. What resilience? Did we have a choice really? Life moves on as usual....the memories fade a little. But we can never really erase them from our minds. My fear is the impact it can have on little minds like yours. When you express fear in such situations, I hug you, kiss you and tell you not to fear.....but I know that your mind does not stop thinking about these even after our discussions have long ended..........

F.r.i.e.n.d.s

2011-07-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

Neri, it is difficult to express my feelings about how I feel.... I met a very dear friend after more than a decade. Tho it was a long conversation over phone, it felt like we were meeting just as we did in the good old days. There was absolutely no awkwardness. The bond was as intense as it was way back, despite us not being in touch at all. We just continued from where we left.....thanks to Face book! Tiki mama as we love to call her..Sunita is her official name found Srijit on FB and so we reconnected. This is one friend who has been more than a friend. She has been the sister I never had, a friend like none else and a wonderful human being. The friend who stood like a rock when I needed her most, who was not afraid to tell me if I went wrong and who was always there to listen. We have shared our 'secrets' without any hesitation! And I can, without a doubt, be sure that she is the same person I knew a decade ago- my closest, truest friend. Many friends have come and gone, many have changed over years, some have never been the true friends I thought they were, but this friend is a friend for life. You will meet her soon. I hope you grow to have atlast some friends like her. I am sure you will.......just the other day I was relieved when u came back from school and said - Amma, I realised that X is not a true friend. She chooses to ignore me when she feels like and that hurts me......You may be right, you may not be....but you have started thinking a little more about friendship than u did till now......

Father talk!

2011-06-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the father talk; just as we set off for school, today, we caught Sri running behind the vehicle.....Nerika, Nerika!!!! Why? He has an afternoon flight to catch and she gets back home only by evening. The morning bye before he left for work was not enough. He had to have a glimpse of his jhia ma again. No, a phone talk would not do - he wanted to meet her. Voww that means he is home for lunch early, I thought as I got back after dropping Neri to school. Maybe I dont know him well enough still thats why I expected that (?????!!!!!) I realised as I stepped in. That's what kids can do to fathers. Even the workaholic father who forgets that the wife is waiting for lunch or that she has had a long day and needs a break from what she has been doing all day :) But then thats what parenthood does.
If there's an early morn 4'c clock flight to catch? Lights are switched on kid is hugged and kissed and only then does our man set off for another of his tour.
Why do u have to have so many meetings, nannnnna ????????

Love u, dad

2011-06-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

By the way, its Fathers Day today, wish me....... I dont really need this day to wish u daddy. Love u very much. Years have passed and we have gotten older, both u and me. But for me u still remain the same daddy and I your little girl. Today, when I see my daughter growing up before me, I understand how u felt as a parent. I understand all those anxious moments you had, all those moments when u pampered me when u could have been stern and all those moments when you sacrificed so much for me. You certainly have been the most wonderful daddy any girl could want and ask for. I am proud to be a daddy's girl.