To my sweet, sassy Paisley on your second birthday,
I’ve never been sure how to be a girl mum. I don’t like pink and I’m not a girly girl, and I hate that girls are targeted with all that sickly stuff in shops. People laughed when we found out you were going to be a girl, I’ve been very vocal about the whole anti-pink thing. But this last year, I have become very aware of what an important job, raising a girl actually is.
There have been some awful things in the media about how women have been treated and still are being treated and it sickens me. I won’t go into too much detail here but it has made me so determined to raise you and your sister to be strong women. To be proud, to work hard for what you want. My sister told me the other day that she wants to get you dressing up outfits (fine) and watch Disney films with you – the princessy types – and I instantly recoiled in horror. Don’t get me wrong, I loved them as a child but if you are to be encouraged to watch something, I want you to watch films where the females are strong characters and don’t rely on a prince to rescue them. Films like Anastasia, or Brave or even better, Moana where the title character is the heroine. She sees what needs doing and goes off and gets it done, saving her people. I mean, if you think about it, she didn’t even need Maui. Films like The Princess and the Frog where Tiana works hard all her life to build her dream restaurant and make it work. Her Dad tells her right at the start to work hard for what she wants, and she does.
You wish and you dream with all your little heart, but you remember… that that old star can only take you part of the way. You gotta help it along with some hard work of your own. And then you can do anything you set your mind to.
But I don’t just want to encourage you to work hard, I want you to be compassionate and to be loving. I want you to be able to learn at every opportunity but also to be grateful to those that you learn from. I want you to be proud of your achievements, big or small – but not put others down in the process. Never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up. Never stop wondering. And always keep your wicked sense of humour. it will serve you well.
My beautiful girl, you make me so proud every day. You are so loving and kind. You give the most amazing cuddles and you are rarely the first to let go. You take such good care of your baby sister – always picking up her dropped toys for her and telling me when she starts to cry. You miss Dexter when he’s at school and you are normally so excited to go and pick him up.
But do you know what else? You pack a mean punch! You already are not one to be messed with. Dexter has learnt that many a time already. As have the cats! Don’t lose that. (ok, maybe tame it a bit and don’t just whack people, but) don’t let people walk all over you.
At just two years old, you already know exactly what you want and how to get it. You are certainly strong-willed and although it makes you testing at times, I never want you to change.
You have two very good role models in your aunties. Both of whom you love – Bod, who won’t take shit from anyone and Olivia who knows what she wants and is working so very hard to get it. I’m proud of both of them and I would be super chuffed if you turned out like either of them. A combination of the two would be deadly!!
Girl, I have so many hopes for you. And you are teaching me so much about what type of person I want to be too. I hope that when you’re older, you will see me as a good role model too.
Pais, You are such a funny thing. Your sense of humour amazes me and you often have me in stitched just with your facial expressions and reactions alone. Everybody that meets you says how funny you are but writing about it, I could never do it justice. You’re my little comedienne.
At two years old, you have many words that I and your family understand but to a stranger, might not be absolutely clear. You love Paw Patrol, Mona and Cars. You love being outside and as soon as you get a sniff of freedom, you make a run for it. You don’t mind nap times but you scream the house down at bedtime. You eat relatively well and currently will still eat some fruit and veg… unlike your brother. You like to sit and snuggle on the sofa with books or a film and copy every single thing your brother does. Where he walks, what he says and does, even the exact way he laughs and cries or whines.
Kid, I bloody love you. I hope you have a fantastic birthday and an awesome day at preschool tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store for you.
Lots of love,
Mummy xx
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