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| Another ten: Girls these days grow up so fast |
| Posted on 16/10/05 at 07:34 by NGONGE |
Most people have someone they go to for a light conversation and a bit of chinwag every now and then. If youre feeling down, have good news or just feel like talking, you would usually pickup the phone and phone someone. Some people phone friends, others phone family and few phone the Samaritans. In some cases, the phone is not enough. You feel that whatever you have to say has to be done face to face. Thats what my four-year-old daughter often does. Every night when I return back from work she corners me and starts telling me about her day! Every night, I try to brush her off and tell her that Im tired; that I need to change and that I need the toilet. She ignores me and carries on telling me about her life. Ive now learned to listen to her as I get on with the changing of my clothes and the visits to the toilet. Sometimes, she asks impertinent questions about the length of time I spend in the toilet and asks me to open the door so she can see what Im doing!
She started school a year ago and would spend every night telling me how much painting she did. Sometimes she would show me splashes of paint on a paper and ask me if I think its great. I tried to tell her the truth once but she looked so disappointed and hurt it made me feel guilty and I decided never to comment on her paintings again. Her mothers threats came after Ive already made this decision.
In her first year in school, my daughter made lots of friends. She told me all their names and I got daily reports on all the things they did. Of all these friends, she liked a child called Ishan the most. Because she liked Ishan, I too liked Ishan and always asked her how Ishan was. Her and Ishan were the best of friends.
This year, she started full-time school. No half days for her anymore. Now, she has to be like all the big boys and girls and do a full day at school. On her first day at school, when I got back from work, I was informed of the sad news about Ishan. He was moved to another class! She was almost having a tantrum as she told me this. She also seemed to blame Ishan and me for this serious state of affairs. I reminded her that she could still see Ishan during break times and this calmed her down a little.
School went ok for the first couple of weeks and she even told me that she does not mind Ishan being in another class. She has new friends now and can still see Ishan during break times; Ive fathered a philosophical four-year-old!
The other day, she told me that she had a fight with Ishan. She said that HE is not her friend anymore. Ishan is a boy? A whole year of daily talking about Ishan went by and not once did I suspect that Ishan was a boy! A boy?
Last night, I got back from work early. Got into the house and saw her already waiting for me in the hallway. I said hi and walked right past her. She pompously said I need to talk to you now! I went into the bedroom and shut the door. She was shouting from the other side and asking me to hurry up changing. I told her to talk from behind the door. She said she couldnt. Its important that she looks at my eyes when she talks! I changed and went to the toilet. She sat outside and kept on asking me to hurry up. I kept on telling her to shut up.
Finally, when I came out of the toilet and sat down, she came over and sat opposite me. I need to tell you something, she said. I sat there thinking of every father in the world who had his daughter gravely sit them down in such a way and tell them something! I panicked. She told me that shes thinking of approaching Ishan and asking him why does he not want to be her friend anymore! And they called it puppy looove.
What a dog this Ishan is! How dare he ensnare my little girl in such a way? If it were not for his age, Id have the little scamp in a headlock.
I tried to go easy on her and told her that she should not approach Ishan and that she should wait for him to make the first move. She asked me a question that the greatest politicians in the history of the world, the best philosophers and most knowledgeable priests, rabbis and mullahs could never adequately answer: WHY?
I tried to trick her with simple replies but she was still not convinced. I told her that hes the one who said shes not his friend and therefore its he who should make the first move. She said, WHY! I told her that this is the way things have always worked between two people that fought. She said WHY! I tried to reason with her by asking her who should say sorry first if her and me had a fight but she was the one who started it. She said I had to apologise because I was BIGGER! I told her thats why Ishan needs to make the first move. He was bigger. She impatiently closed her eyes and slowly shook her head from side to side and then said, but hes my friend!
Girls these days grow up so fast.
I had to give it to her straight and hurt her feelings. I told her that Ishan dumped her and that by trying to talk to him she will show him what a weak and needy cow she is. She asked that dreaded question again.
Girls these days grow up so fast.
I told her to do what she liked and never to mention Ishan in my presence again. The needy, clingy, weak (and already once dumped) cow, replied, but hes my friend!
Her mother walked in and asked me who was I shouting at on the phone and which woman got dumped!
Girls grow up so fast these days.
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