Confidence

by Ashley Weeks Cart

“I miss you so so so much.”

She says this, unprompted, with the sing- songy enthusiasm and authenticity reflective of her three years of life. It’s unbridled. Innocent. And so sweet that I feel my face melt into an involuntary smile.

I observe her as she shares the highlights of her day. I witness the impact of his face on her storytelling. There’s no hint of shyness. A finger never enters her mouth out of discomfort. She speaks clearly and with great detail. No awkward babbling or whispers. No signs of bashfulness or self-consciousness. I don’t have to remind her to use her words, or make eye contact, or remove her hands from her mouth so that we can understand what she’s saying. There’s no need for prompting or coaxing.

The words come effortlessly. The stories unfold in great detail, with true glimpses of how she experiences the world. What resonates and impacts her is apparent and I’m left speechless by the cleverness of her thoughts, the skilled storytelling of our day.

That is the effect of a father’s love.

And neither of them have any idea how remarkable it feels to catch a glimpse of a confident woman in process. Nor do they have any idea how lucky they are, how lucky I know I am, in that moment, and forever.