Girl Power

Here is my just-turned-4-year old girl after getting dressed for a party. If you've been here before, you already know she has a penchant for styling herself. I am just the Grace Coddington to her Anna Wintour. Unlike Ms. Wintour though, she models her visions herself.

She and her brother now have an old camera to play with, and I am not surprised this is one way she's putting it to use.

She even told me, Mama put this in your blog. Okay, done.

I have to admit that sometimes, I worry about her obsession with the clothes, shoes and accessories, as I hear strains of Madonna's Material Girl inside my head.

I think... then I realize... lighten up. In fact, be thankful. This is where her oh-so-fertile imagination takes her. It's fertile enough to know exactly what shapes and colors to use for her glitter tattoos...

...and fertile enough to know she needs to go to the DIY accessory table to fashion herself a bracelet and earrings to go with today's fashion ensemble. She does all this with a passion bigger than her own size.

And so my heart swells. Please excuse the surge of mama-mushiness, but I have to write her a note that will forever be archived in the internet on this day of March, which also happens to be Women's Month.

My dear little girl, may your passion and imagination take you far someday, somewhere you will be happy. But it must only be a 15-minute drive from Pappy and I okay? Or we can move there. Now back on topic....

Growing up I was often told, stop being so sensitive, stop being so emotional, don't touch that, don't do that and that and that. You should like this, not that. That idea of yours is ridiculous, those questions are ridiculous, that outfit doesn't make sense, you don't make sense. STOP BEING SUCH A GIRL.

It's your turn now and you know what? Screw all that. There is so much power in being a girl. Embrace it.

Going to school wearing feathers on your hair is only a symbol. What it represents is what's important. It represents being comfortable with your self. It's not denying your feelings. It's not hiding your ideas because someone is bound to say it's ridiculous. It's not having to pretend you're not smart just to fit in. It's knowing you are not the prettiest girl in the room and being fine with it because you understand that you are the sum of all your parts, most importantly your mind and your heart - from which stem your imagination and passion!

Wether you decide to be a full-time mother raising five kids, or a working mom of six juggling a career a 'la Coco Chanel or a 'la Madame Curie, or a single woman happily married to a cause - whatever it is - you'll need a lot of that passion and imagination. Save every ounce of it. Keep the girl in you alive even when you're all grown up. Just ask Eve Ensler.

Also my dear girl... thank you for inspiring back some of the passion and imagination I had lost on the way to adulthood. Happy Women's Month! Happy Girls' Month Cheechapampam! Mama loves you forever and ever, through thick and thin... every crazy outfit and ridiculous idea. As your mom, I do have to set limits to make sure you're safe, healthy and well-behaved. You may not like me when I get on your case. But as I set limits I will also try my hardest not to quell that awesome mix of passion and imagination in you. Love you. Love you. Love you!