A couple of days ago, my daughter had a homework assignment: Who would you like to be for a day? Choose anyone (alive or dead) and explain why you would like to swap places with them.
She thought. Pondered. Scratched her head.
Finally, she said, “I don’t want to be someone else. I want to be myself!”
“Pure genius!” I told her proudly.
For isn’t this what we all wish for?
To go through the awkward caterpillar stage, to the secretive chrysalis bursting with promise and finally, to emerge – transformed – into the beautiful butterfly of ourselves?
The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.
Rabindranath Tagore
This lovely butterfly danced out of the mist as we walked into the Butterfly House in Stockholm last week.
For more luminous creatures, please visit: Camera Critters.
Lady Fi 
I’m so proud of our little girl! ❤ 🙂
LikeLike
Bravo!!! She couldn’t have answered any better! That is a breath-taking photo!! :-))
LikeLike
Oh my gosh! This is one great shot! I love the capture and the post processing!
My Camera Critters post is now up as well, you can read it HERE. Happy Sunday!
LikeLike
beautiful words to go with a beautiful picture, really really lovely. The effect feels like a fairy fantasy
LikeLike
How marvelous it is that your daughter wants to be herself. Did she end up writing that in her assignment?
LikeLike
Yes, she did. Although it was obvious the teacher wanted her to write something else.
LikeLike
That is great response for the assignment. and I admire how you let her go ahead with the thought.
And it reminds me when my younger daughter when she was five replied she wanted to be a ‘mother’ when she grows up. Now of course the answer is different to the same question. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s wonderful. And a great shot too.
LikeLike
What a well-adjusted little daughter you have – congratulations – and how refreshing 🙂
Your shadow shot is delightful – ethereal. I enjoyed your earlier posts too – that beautiful butterfly was so big.
LikeLike
so true! wonderful!
LikeLike
🙂 How lovely! Beautiful photo as well.
LikeLike
smiles. that sounds perfect…and yes it is…it speaks highly of the way she was raised, not all kids would want that…fly little butter fly….
LikeLike
Great story. I was going to say that your butterfly picture was ethereal but jabblog beat me to it. 🙂
LikeLike
Your daughter is a wise young lady. Most youngsters (and even adults) would jump at the chance to be a famous actor or singer. She is definitely going in the right direction. You did well, Mom.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
LikeLike
BAH!. Why be someone else when being herself is sooo much fun. Teacher should have changed the assignment.
DI
LikeLike
Lady Fi: Love the butterfly and the faraway look to the photo. That is so neat.
LikeLike
Your daughter had a great answer, lovely image!
LikeLike
I want to be your daughter when I grow up:)
love the quote. And the photo is simply fabulous. I leaned right over , imagining how it “felt” for you as well.
LikeLike
Sounds to me like you and your husband have done a fine job parenting this remarkably stable, secure, and bright daughter of yours. Brilliant!
LikeLike
Wise beyond her years, Fi. You must be so proud. I wonder how many other girls answered things like Beyonce etc.
LikeLike
Thanks! I guess most girls her age (9 yrs in August) said they wanted to be pop stars or film stars.
LikeLike
Your picture is beautiful and your daughter is wise.
LikeLike
Your daughter is amazing!
LikeLike
Beautiful creature.
LikeLike
That child is brilliant! It just illustrates that she is growing up with lots of self confidence and very supportive parents. That child is not only brilliant…she’s very fortunate, too. I’m sure she knows that, though.
I love the photograph…looks kind of like a water color painting.
LikeLike
I hope your beautiful daughter got an A+ on her assignment. What a happy and self-confident young woman she is. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
this is pure genius by your daughter and you for capturing that moment. it’s hard enough, damn hard, to discover ourselves. it’s a process through the years, through the stages of life. this is part of what we should be focusing on, not image-conscious ‘role models’ on corporate tv. absolutely, positively love this.
LikeLike
always great to want to be yourself!
LikeLike
http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/week-20-poets-rally-poetry-awards-plus/
two awards from the bottom of the post.
Happy Sunday!
LikeLike
How absolutely wonderful of her to choose that. She sounds very grounded.
Congrats.
Jen
LikeLike
I was once asked this same question when I was competing for a college scholarship my Senior year of high school. I answered the same way and believe that may be why I won! It makes me smile to think your daughter likes herself and her life enough to choose herself as the person she most wants to be. The butterfly aptly illustrates your post.
LikeLike
Awwww…you’re doing a great job raising her! I love her answer! You should be so proud.
And that photo is brilliant too!
LikeLike
I’m sure she was the only one in her class to answer that way. You said the teacher wasn’t too happy. I’d love to read what your daughter wrote. The butterfly is stunning.
LikeLike
She wrote that she would like to be herself. (The others wanted to be Hannah Montana and football players etc..) The teacher said she was a great person as herself, but wanted her to write + tell more.
LikeLike
Only children that feel really good about themselves would answer that way..kudos to your very bright anklebiter!
Your photo is awesome..love the colors and the muted effects you captured:)
LikeLike
Your daughter is a very wise person. My only wish for her is that she remains as content with her life as she now is. But with you for a mother, I am sure she will.
LikeLike
Good for your daughter. It takes some of us a lifetime to come to that same conclusion. Beautiful hazy photo.
LikeLike
Good for her – now she only has to explain why, to a teacher who probably isn’t expecting that answer….!
LikeLike
That was truly a genius answer!
LikeLike
Good for her!! And what a reflection of the kind of parents she has!
LikeLike
I’m with her! I hope she wrote that in her homework 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely butterfly shot, and I like how you tied that into your daughter’s choice. She’s on the right track. Be yourself to the best of your ability and enjoy every moment of it.
LikeLike
http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/shakira-where-r-u-face-of-the-week-14/
please visit to get Shakira back…
many thanks!
LikeLike
it took me 44 years to finally become a butterfly. Your daughter sounds like a pretty well adjusted kid. You should be proud
LikeLike
These are the simple, unexpected moments when your children make you proud. Of course YOU “grew her up” and taught her to value herself.
LikeLike
Like Dumbledore with the mirror of desires – he saw himself holding warm socks.
LikeLike