Day 70: 12th of June

27 Years ago my daughter Sasha was born.  I still remember her head coming out and the slight gurgling sound she made.  It was one of the most emotional experiences I can remember.  At the time Samantha and I were quite worried about how ugly she was (her chin was a quite squashed from the birthing experience), but as good loving parents we didn't mention it.   Its only much later when it turned out that actually Sasha was not going to be an ugly duckling and might be going down the Swan route that we admitted this to each other.

Over the past 27 years I have tried to impart some of my hard earned knowledge to Sasha:

• How to cook "Daddy's rice dish", 
• Overcoming (or accepting) adversity, 
• Ducking out of sight of the cops when sitting in the front seat of the car if your 5 years old,
• How to lie to your parents (but feel guilty about it)
• Which BDs to read
• That its a good idea not to throw your phone out of the window or in the toilet
• That showers should be taken cold
• And that children should call their parents twice a week (just joking, once is enough)

For her part Sasha has taught me how authority can become mutual respect and responsibility can turn into simple presence.  That's the great thing about children, they teach you (nearly) as much as you teach them.

So thank you Sasha for the many things you have taught me and the many things you will.

Happy birthday