So I was bringing my daughter up to bed tonight. And speaking to her only in French. She understands so well now.
I asked her if she would be speaking to her Pepere in French when she sees him at Christmas (2011). And she answered "Je ne sais pas" ("I don't know"), "but I will try". "And Maman? Do you think we could bring home those Barbies he has just for me?"
And I had no clue what she was talking about and said so. So she said "You know Maman, those dollies that he bought and put on the fridge for me, with the clothes and everything. We could take them off the fridge and bring them home."
OK. So my daughter is 5. She last saw her grandfather when she was 4 ... in July 2010. About 9 months ago. But she remembers these dollies that he has on his fridge for her. He actually put them up there in October 2009. He left them there, and when we came back in '10 he said he'd left them there just for her. Incredible the things that mean something to a child. I was amazed that she still remembered this today. I had completely forgotten. I told her maybe we should leave the Barbie dollies on the fridge so he could remember her when he saw them.
She answered "He doesn't need them. I will draw him a picture of me and him, and he can remember me that way. And it's not from the store. It's right from me. And he also has me in his heart. He doesn't really need anything on his fridge."
She really is his descendant. She got all the best of her Pepere. And it is so obvious on days like today. I remember visiting him when she was about 2. And she put her little fingers all over his living room windows. And I apologized profusely and said I would wipe the smudges up once she was in bed. And he looked at me and said "Why would you erase them? They're memories. I'm so lucky. I'll get to look at them and see her every single day."
It was one of those moments. That just meant so much.
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