Today is Safiya’s birthday- 19th. I have always thought that she has the best birthdate. Hard to forget, being at the beginning of perhaps the most happy month in the year.
I am not going to embarrass her with any stories except to say that she is very much going in the direction of the meaning of her name- clear-headed. She can be determined, though not stubborn (leaving that for Kaila). Resolute yet reasonable.
One Safiya story: Reading bedtime fairy tales whilst being feminist is not a straightforward business- neither for mother nor child. There is a tension in sharing timeless and yet aging tales. So with Cinderella, the worst of all I think. But then again, Hansel and Gretel is so grimm. I tried to counteract with more modern and liberated versions- The Paper Bag Princess, for example.
But back to Cinderella, there I was deconstructing to Safiya aged 4 when she interrupted me with utmost exasperation- “OK, she could not get married and wear ugly clothes, would that make you happy?’
Our children, whether we like it or not, ‘suss’ (Trini word) us out early o’clock – if we would only listen to them and be brave enough to learn. I’ve just spent two weeks with Josh, my eldest son of soon-to-be 23 years – probably the only time I’ve shared one-on-one time with any of my boys – and believe me I’m surprised at how well he knows his parents – it makes me smile and if I’m brave enough I’ll listen and take his advice.
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