• When reading a certain favourite story she says “Mommy, this is my favourite page of this story because I like the word arose.” I totally get that. I love that kind of language. It’s why I loved to read the Oz books and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s stories. 
• She is as easily discouraged by her inability to do things perfectly the first time as I am, despite my concerted efforts to not pass on this trait and show her that all that is important is that she try her best.
• She frequently sits down to write stories. When I was a child I loved to do this. Her most recent titles? The Lonely Pony and The Boy Who Was Allergic to Flowers.
• Her inability to understand mean kids’ actions or why anyone would have a problem listening to and immediately obeying the teacher or other authorities. We are rule-followers, her and I.
• She loves to give gifts and is constantly making cards and “presents” for people. One of her favourite imaginary games to play with her little brother is “giving presents” where they wrap up their toys in their special blankets and solemnly present them to each other.  
• She has a bossy side and it shows up frequently in her interactions with her little brother as mine did with my sisters.
• She wants to be told, over and over, that she is loved and accepted and appreciated and that she is good enough.

I know she won’t be an exact copy, but it’s frightening how many of my own traits I recognize in her. Some are thrilling. Others make me worry for the hard lessons she will have to learn as she grows. It’s like watching a younger version of myself going out to make the same mistakes and it feels like I have so little power to stop it. I try to gently guide her to stand up for herself and I suspect she has more chutzpah than I ever did. I just hope I can figure out the right way to nurture it.