Lessons

I know this happens for every kid. They're told they're cute or pretty or handsome and so they start to think that being cute or pretty or handsome is good and that it is important.

XX said to me recently, "I look cute like this." I've seen some of the girls in her classes that are scarily not only aware of their looks, but take it to that whole 90210 level of import. XX remains sweetly naive, but still, it seemed time for a lesson.

We said tonight that cute was good, pretty was good, but ultimately, not the most important qualities one can have. And when someone says, "Oh, you're so cute" (which happens on a daily basis), what XX can say back is, "Thank you. But more importantly, I'm a good girl." Or "I like to learn and I work hard and I can run and jump."

XX thought about this and said seriously, "Or I can say, 'Thank you. But I also have a lot of shoes.'"

Clearly, I'm failing in my parental duties.

Haircut

I've been avoiding cutting XX's hair mostly because I've been afraid that if I cut off the curls, they wouldn't come back. And I love those curls.

But it was time, so we did it today. We'll see how it grows out. I probably should have taken her to someone who could deal with children, Asian hair and curls. Each a "problem" in itself. Oh well.

It's still curling, but I had a really hard time getting a picture. As XX tells me, "Sometimes I'm XiaoXiao, but mostly I'm a goofball."

Fun

It's that time of year when there are outside days ...

... and inside days.