on dads and parenting

Out of my sister and I, I’m pretty I’m the one who inherited  the bigger part of my dad’s personality. It’s hard to describe him in a few sentence because lemme tell ya, he’s everything but the typical father.

As some of you may know, my sister and I were brought up in the Ivory Coast (Africa) where I’m positive most parents would constantly be worried about where their kids are, what they eat and the water they drink etc etc. , you know, the kind of people that go to Mexico or Jamaica and can’t eat or drink anything that hasn’t a European or American label on it.  My parents = opposite side of the spectrum. My mom did worry a little bit more about these things than my dad (like most moms do) and she would kind of silently freak out when we walked barefoot everywhere or when we ate at the most sketchy (BUT DELICIOUS) Ivorian restaurants.

Our dad would always say something along the lines of “ ah leave them, they won’t die if they fall” or “ let them eat that, their digestive system will only get stronger” ; which I  loved and STILL love.

Do you wanna know how I learned to swim? (and this might shock parents who read parenting books and stuff ) . I was three (so precocious, I know) and my dad simply threw me into a pool (he was obviously watching me) and bam! I was a swimmer right there. I have so many stories like this one. I was like my dad’s little monkey, we were always performing some kind of stunt where my mom would just run away thinking I was going to break my neck. And I never did! Never broke anything actually; I’m kind of a rock so he must’ve done something right!

Despite my obsession with shoes and bags (and clothes in general actually) I’m a real tomboy at heart. I won’t elaborate on the matter BUT I have some very very boyish habits. My dad always wanted a boy and since I was the first child, I think I ended up representing the “ boy figure “ .

Here are some traits I got from my dad and some things we share:

-       we’re both  somewhat insensitive people, (but my dad takes the cake on that one)

-       we LOVE playing pranks on people  and just teasing people in general

-       we’re fluent in sarcasm and irony

-       we have absolutely NO patience for bratty kids

-       we make up the WEIRDEST names, names that sound like they’re from another dimension)

-       we’re forgetful and not very careful ( but really, I win this one by far, just trying to blame it on the genes here)

-       we were Coldplay fans longgggg before anyone knew them

-       I like to say I inherited his photography skills (but I didn’t, I just got the passion!)

-       - we love action movies, any kind

and the list could go on!

It's his birthday today so happy birthday papa!