Our five-year-old daughter Kylie just received her first official hug from a boy today. Oh, I know this boy. His name is Luke. I’ve seen Luke. More importantly, Luke has seen me. We shared a moment of checking each other out one day as I dropped off Kylie at her preschool.
Well, turns out Luke gave her an impromptu hug while standing in line today.
How do I know this?
Because after reading to her in her bed tonight, something her mommy and I try to alternate doing, she whispered it in my ear. About the hug. And honestly, I wasn’t sure what to say. I just nodded and said “Well that’s nice.” I said that friends like to give hugs. I asked her why Luke gave her the hug and she said in a totally perplexed way “I don’t know.”
Now, looking back, I probably should have said something different.
When she told me that Luke hugged her, I should have said “Of course he did.
Or maybe I should have said “Well, did you hug him back?”
And then when I asked her why and she replied “I don’t know”, I should have said something else.
I should have said “I know why.”
I should have said “It’s because you’re a beautiful little girl, Kylie. Not just on the outside, but on the inside. And of course Luke sees this. Luke must be a very smart guy to really see this. Yeah, that Luke is a really smart kid. I like that Luke.”
Yeah, maybe I should have said that.
Then maybe I should have added “And you know something else about Luke?”
Maybe Kylie would say “What?”
Then I would say “Luke’s a very lucky guy. I mean—he got to hug YOU.”
Yeah, it was a special moment and for someone who is always full of so many things to say, I didn’t really say too much.
But the important thing . . .
Kylie said something.
Kylie told her Daddy what happened.
Now I know that Kylie won’t always be five, and I also know she’s not always going to tell Mommy and Daddy what happened. Especially when it comes to boys.
But I’m glad she’s telling us now.
I’m glad she’s telling the only boy in the house her story.
You see the world differently being a father, and especially (I feel) being a father of a girl (or in my case three).
If I sit and really think about it (which I do, of course), it’s terrifying.
God knows I’m going to fail to find the words. Or the patience. Or the energy.
But I’m going to try. And I hope that this bond that Kylie and I share never goes away.
I wanted to write something about Kylie’s birthday last Saturday, but honestly, I was too tired to share anything.
Our little girl is not as little as she used to be. But she still whispers in my ear and tells me secrets. This is a very, very precious gift.
It’s one that I hope never goes away.
This was a lovely post! As a new parent it's also inspiring to see other parent's delighting in the journey down the track. Hope you're well.
this was so sweet. i pray you & your precious daughter never lose that bond, either.
How precious! I think your response was fine. Kids tend to blindside us with things like these! LOL So long as you are open to what she's saying, she likely will continue to share such things with you. Thanks for sharing this sweet story!
Thanks for the kind comments.
Touching. Only a proficient writer could capture the moment as you have, Travis. I can feel the jarring moment when she told you… what to say, how to reply? Remember this, you still have time to speak to her about it. Just as she "shook" you with it…now that time has passed, give her a teensy nudge. Something like, "Honey, what ever happened to Luke…you know, the hug?" And now, ready for it, you just sit back and take in every small movement of her mouth, that twinkle in her eye, as she tells you whatever is on her mind. Precious. Nice post.
Nice to hear from you, CoolKayaker! Thought you'd abandoned me for bigger name authors and Geneva life!
Hi, Travis. No abandonment here. LOL I truly enjoy your blog, and live through you the trials and tribulations and elation of being an author.
Your latest posts, the ones regarding Solitary series conclusions, seem to be hinting to a crossroads in your life and writing. I look forward to hearing more about it in weeks ahead. Steve CK1
The bond between a "little girl" and her "daddy" is one not many things can compare to. There is always something special about the love that is there. And no matter what happens in life, that bond will always be there! I was always "Daddy's Little Girl". Even though I am 35 and I lost my Daddy 3 years ago, I am and will always be his little girl. LOVE this post… Brings back a lot of great memories for me of times when I was growing up and couldn't wait to tell Daddy something when he got home!!! Thanks for sharing!
Coolkayer–thanks. Good to hear you haven't left me. 🙂 I'm taking it a day at a time. Seriously. And Windi–thanks. Have you read Every Breath You Take? It was my love letter of sorts to our two year old daughter who is now five. Guess I have to write two more for each of our twins. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed this post.
I have not read it yet.. But I will be reading it soon!!! Going to put that one on order! It will get here about the time I get through reading "Paper Angels" again 🙂 I started it again last night!!! What is ironic, is the 1st book of yours I read ("The Promise Remains") I read after I had boarded a plane in Atlanta, GA, headed on a business trip to Chicago, IL… I always seem to cry when I read your books.. I am serious, but kidding as well! "Paper Angels" has opened a new tradition for me. As Jimmy Wayne challenged me about a Paper Angel Tree (details on my blog) via Twitter, this book was the icing on the cake! As I was placing the Angels on the tree, all I could do was to think back to the parts of the book and cry as I was hanging them. The book gave more "life" to them!! I will have a new tradition every year because of you two… A PAPER ANGEL TREE at my business in my window is my new Christmas tradition! Thank you so much for all your work!!!
Thank you for sharing this, Windi!