Copycat

I have a little copycat that gets ready with me every morning. She brushes her teeth when I brush mine, she puts face lotion on when I do, she puts on deodorant right after me (well, the cap is still on, but she tries), she rubs lotion on her legs when I put it on mine. She watches what I do, then tries her best to copy me.

Yesterday when I was putting away laundry, she picked out two matching socks of mine, then made me put them on her. She returned a couple minutes later with my gym shoes and had me put them on her as well. She then preceded to walk around the house so proud.

I know she is watching. She is learning all about being a girl woman from me. I know the weight of this. I have seen friends and family walk a dangerous path of searching for perfection. Many times walking that dangerous, unhealthy path because of what their own mothers said to them. I don't want that for my girl. I want to raise a strong, confident woman. I want her to be sure of herself, whomever she chooses to be. I want her to know beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. I want her to know how to be healthy and take care of herself. But I also want her to know that what truly matters is what is on the inside.

After I nurse Isla at night, I stand up and have her lay her head on my shoulder. I pace her room, holding her in my arms and pray for her. Besides praying that she will sleep through the night (hey, that's important!), I pray that she will come to know the Lord and have a real relationship with Him from a young age. I pray for health and protection. That time with her at night is some of the most precious time to me. I realize she won't always let me hold her and pray. I realize as she grows, she won't even always be with me, but I will still pray. I hope as Isla grows and matures that she not only has a healthy self image and a real relationship with God, but that she know her mama is always in her corner rooting for her, whether she knows it at the time or not.