I used to be the one telling my youngest daughter how to do things and how the world works. Now I'm getting used to her showing me the ropes.
Over the holidays, she's going to teach me to SCUBA dive. Descending into the deep off Waikiki, Waianae, and Haleiwa, I'll have to trust her as much as she trusted me when I delivered her many years ago to the confusing world of school, with strange symbols on the blackboard, and a couple of classmates who liked to gang up on her and fight for no reason.
Kai's a new Dive Master. But it's not just SCUBA. My daughter nonchalantly, without checking any written instructions, set up my Wii to bring in Netflix; she created all kinds computer shortcuts for me; she made quick work of fixing an overhead light that hadn't worked in years; she drops dry, droll comments that lighten and brighten my outlook. She does it all and explains without making a big deal of anything, and I find myself admiring how easily and organically she does things. She didn't inherit any of this from me.
At first it felt really odd, learning from my "kid." Now I just feel fortunate and proud.
I always used to tell her it's important to truly listen. That's just what I'm doing...
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