I was walking through the mall yesterday with Little Diva. For the uninitiated, Little Diva is a spunky 11 year old girl who looks like a lighter version of me. She's nearly as tall as I am with the physique worthy of all her ballet training that she recently abandoned... Remember all that because it will be important later...
Like I started saying, I was in the mall with Little Diva walking around, window shopping and wish list making when some truly lackluster, seemingly inbred young man gave my child the once over. My heart stopped and I nearly stopped his. This young man looked every bit 16 years old. Despite the fact that Little Diva is tall, you can see in her face that she is YOUNG. She vacillates between watching Yo Gabba Gabba and RuPaul's Drag Race. One minute she wants to cuddle with her mother. The next she wants me to drop her off at the mall for a few hours to walk about with her friends.
Until this moment, I never truly understood why my parents would act the way they did by insisting I dress, walk and talk certain ways. I never understood why they would forbid me from going certain places and hanging out with those "fast ass little girls".
But in that moment, it became clear. All they wanted was to keep their daughter safe. They wanted to make sure I did not grow up before my time. They sought to keep me away from situations where lackluster seemingly inbred young men could take advantage of me.
I know that no amount of hovering will keep Little Diva safe. However, I can give her the tools that my parents did not give me. I can teach her to use her voice. I can give her safe spaces to express herself. I can foster confidence in her decision making skills...and I can pray. A lot. Often. Without ceasing.
