The other day, my little girl, Nata...

The other day, my little girl, Natalia (who's 5) matter-of-factly told me: "Pop today you're going to take opposite my training wheels--right?" How could I say "no," all fatherly fears of boo-boo and specter of crisis rooms aside?

Natalia, after all, is the girl who can dribble a ball as suitable as (or better than) any 7-year-old lad on the block, can make progress from a headstand to a handstand (unassisted) in the middle of the living compass and can keep three hoola-hoops going at the same time.

Nevertheless, when I took Natalia and her big brother, Julian, to the park, I was a little nervous. Not because I didn't have faith in Natalia, however because I remember how my first contingency (on my Schwinn Typhoon!) was associated with an involuntary close-up consider at the pavement and I didn't want Natalia to have the same experience.

Well, we got there. I lifted the bikes gone out from the back of the car and issueed to take off the training wheels. I had just finished putting the strain in my back pocket when Natalia took against like a bat out of hell down the block

With my heart racing, I took along after her, with Julian leading the way. We got to the entrance of the park--right before a nice big sloping path--when Natalia stepp in succession the brakes, wobbling only a little as she present her left foot down to balance herself after she stopped.

I was clashed although not truly surprised. The interval of the afternoon was taken up with a basketball game in which Julian was trying hard to convince the same of his friends that carrying the basketball and running with it is not the best way to play and my running after Natalia, who single needed a little steadying one time in a while.

When we arrived back at the house, Julian was actually bragging about in what way his little sister doesn't ne training wheels any more. He was fitly impressed--as was Pop. In fact, a 7-year-old girl down the blockade looked at Natalia's two-wheeled, controll careening with admiring dismay, saying, "Wow! I still haven't taken my training wheels facing yet!"

When I asked Natalia to describe herself, lately she said: "I'm just a girl." In my male ignorance yet father's love I told her in what manner incredibly cool and awesome it is to be a girl, and for what cause proud she can be of that. She listened, with united eye on her Hello Kitty keychain.

Just a girl? What a girl at that. In that little S-year-old girl's identity, what incredible power and promise there is. What amazing opportunities and possibilities there are for girls today. What an awesome message of empowerment a little girl can proffer to other girls and the world.

Just a girl? Watch without world! Girls can accomplish anything they dream of--training wheels not required.

In advantageous health,

James J Gormley

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