"Mom, why are you so brown and I'm so white?"

I love being Natalia's mom. She has a personality of her own ;-) Even though I know she picks things up from me and the rest of her family, here and there, she is Natalia.

She looks like Natalia. 

She acts like Natalia. 

When she was little I had this conflict because some of the people around me concentrated so much on pointing out she was so light and I was so dark-skinned. It would frustrate me. Some people would even say,

"She looks nothing like you, she's so cute!."

maybe not maliciously, maybe yes. I don't know but it would make me feel sad that my daughter didn't look like me. 

One day I was at the store and a lady said,

"wow she is so cute! Are you baby-sitting!?"

ughhh! 

One afternoon Natalia asked me,

"Mom, why are you so brown and I'm so white?"

She was 4! 

I felt so sad that we were already having this conversation, but I was happy she trusted me with her little worries. I told her, everyone is different colors, skin is like coloring pencils or crayons, no two colors are exactly the same. I compared all of our family members arms and showed her how we are all different shades and we were all beautiful. 

Sometimes when I hear or see parents cringe at the idea of addressing color and race I remember the moments I've been able to talk about it with my kids. It's not something we should cringe at, instead something we can learn to embrace ourselves and so transmit that appreciation to our children. 

If they see us avoid these issues now, they will learn to ignore them when they are older as well. These are topics that cannot be ignored forever.

My Natalia is adorable, and I have come to terms that because her skin is lighter than mine some people will assume she doesn't look like me. (even though we have the same face shape, huge brown eyes, etc)

BUT WHO CARES! There's no denying I gave birth to her and I get to have a blast raising her because she is my daughter, my baby girl.  

This week, her dad and I, went on a field trip with her. It was cool to see her interact with her buddies. They think they are the cutest princesses ;-) Had to keep them grounded a couple of times! Ha ha. 

Love my mini. 

Little Garden Update: Probably transplanting next week! 

(We got some insulant blankets just in case)