Childisms

We have been reading a lot of the Disney princess easy reader anthology. (5 stories in one! 5 princesses in one book!)

With an abundance of choices in one slender volume: Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Aurora or Jasmine, for Bee, other story books pale in comparison at the moment. Unfortunately for me, the reader, the stories are easy readers, comprising simple sentences, a mere string of facts shadowing the general princess plot lines.

They. Plod. Along.

However, in the final story, Jasmine receives a pet tiger from her father to make her happy. (You can't read too much into this.) She names it Rajah. He keeps her safe from harm.

Every time I read this story, and indeed that is frequently, Miss Bee asks me, in a serious tone of voice, "Who is Harm, Mommy?"

As if Harm were a Disney character to be vanquished, one more step on the journey to a happy ending. If only.

"Harm is just another word for trouble, Bee," I cautiously explain. But still, she persists in asking. She is certain that Harm is a person. And in some places I am certain he is.

My darling daughter, if you only knew, that it is my one wish, my one prayer--to always keep you safe from harm. May you never meet Him.