When a 3 year old princess of a child hands you a Barbie, you play barbies with her. No machismo, no ego; all high-pitched voice and smiles. She’ll walk you through it, correct you if you call Barbie the wrong name, or encourage you if she sees you being lazy. She’ll be patient with you, she’ll show compassion for you lack of understanding. This might mean a bit of embarrassment for you, but it will mean the world to her. If you don’t know this already, fellas, every little girl deserves the world.
When a 3 year old princess of a child yells out, “Nino chase me!” you chase her. You gather up your dignity, and you run slow enough to never catch her. She’ll scream with delight and feel like she has superpowers. But right when she stops to see if you’re chasing her, that’s when you hug her as tight as you can. She needs this. She needs to know she’s loved. And when she pulls away finally, face flushed and smiling, I promise you will see the face of an angel.
My angel’s name is Mikayla Rae – My princess of a goddaughter. She’s what divas try to be, but are too impure to become. Her voice commands obedience. “Nino play barbies with me!” Of course I will my love. “Nino chase me!” Here I come my princess. And when she says she loves you, she’s telling you that she knows that you love her, and she’s allowing you into her world. She’ll be patient with you, she’ll be compassionate toward your lack of understanding. She’s 3 years old, and already knows more about love from her innocence and naivety than ego and machismo could ever teach a grown man.
3 year old angel princesses are what grow men out of boys. Hug them tight. Hold them until you feel like falling apart, and I promise they will hold you together. This is what they need fellas. They need men who will love them and protect them; who will play barbies with them and chase them until they fall asleep in your arms. This is what men were made for. If you disagree, you’ve never met a 3 year old angel princess. You don’t know what responsibility is, until she tells you she loves you, and waits for you to say it back.
When you look into the eyes of an angel, act accordingly. They are watching you, more intensely than you can imagine. They are students of those they love most. They’ll know if you’re pretending to play. They’ll know if you’re pretending to chase them. They’ll know if you’re pretending to love them. They might now show it, but they’ll remember the feeling of fake love. They’ll internalize the hurt, and it’ll make their world a little less amazing.
Fellas, it’s not our job to clip the wings of angel princesses. We’re supposed to teach them to fly. We’re supposed to help them overcome their fear of falling, so don’t fail them. When you find yourself looking into the face of an angel, act accordingly. They are watching you, intensely, hoping you will inspire them. So hug them tight. Hold them until they feel like they’ll never fall apart. Show them it’s ok to fly, and I promise they’ll show you the same.
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