Snow

"Snow, snow, snow, dad see outside, you can see the snow. You know dad I like winter because of these beautiful snowflakes", said my little girl.
" I know, dear, your smile tells me how much you like this snow. But snow bites if you play with your bare hands sweetie". I told her.
"You are lying me, dad. Snow is soft and beautiful. They never bite. Please dad take us to play the snow", she added.
"My young girl, you don't understand what snow bites means. Snow looks soft like a feather and it is. But when you hold it, your skin burns and it affects the whole body. You have to cut off the affected parts when it gets worse."
"That is scary, dad. I will never play snow with my bare hands. Can you buy me a pair of mittens and really nice snow boots?"
"Sure, I can. But you have to give me a promise, will you"?
I asked.
"What is the promise? I don't know that", she said with her eyes wide open.
"A promise is a word given to someone to make a commitment. That means if you say "dad, I will never go out by myself until I am really grown up", you should never go out alone. If you go out alone, that means you broke the promise. Did you understand?"
" I never go outside alonem baba", she sat on my lap.
"Now your promise is say 'I never run when the roads are slippery, never touch snow with my bare hands and feet."
I said.
She said, "Done!" And raised her right hand to hi_five.

Next day,it was sunny outside and temperature was -10 degree celcious. I took my little one to the Kingsway Mall for her shopping. She was so happy knowing that she was going to get the winter stuffs and she would be allowed to play in the snow.
"Can you buy me the skate boots, baba. I like pink colour. When I get them I will go to skate and I will the winner." She said.
"Sure, I can," I can  never deny her demands. I thought a while and my inner soul told me" don't show the false hope."
I told her," my princess, I could buy you the skate boots. But you are still too young to play hockey. If you can not make a right decision and balance in the body, you may sprang your legs."
She came closer to me, stood right next to me and said " baba, baba, I am almost as tall as you. I am a big girl now. I Can play big girls games."
"Sure, you will be as tall as me  one day", I said.
"Let's go and find stuffs for you". She was quite excited to find her mittens, winter boots, winter jackets. More than that she was excited to go outside and play with the snow.
I bought her a pair of pink mittens, a pair of shoes a jacket and the winter pant.
On Saturday, we wrapped up in the winter clothes and drove to the Hewrleak park. Silver Skate festival was on. Children were having fun in snow carving, ice maze, ice sliding, Curling, kids hockey, ice skating. Family-friendly  activities were everywhere in the park. We could see people from different ethnic group enjoying the mixed up cultural programs. They were tasting  food of different nationalities.
My daughter said, " dad why people look different colours?"
I was dumbfounded. I couldn't answer  in the same way she asked me. Her demeanor was innocent without any prejudices. But for me, to answer her was full of assumptions that could be false and couldn't be.
"They are from different nationalities, so they have different colours" I said. But soon I realized that the word "nationalities" was abstract and beyond her understanding.
"Daddy, Can I have ice cream"?
There was a cottage where a vendor selling an ice cream to the kids no matter how cold it was. I said, "No".
In my understanding ice cream is only for hot days. I was surprised seeing people having ice cream and ice water in this freezing cold.
I explained her " ice creams are for the hot days to keep you cold. If you eat ice cream you might get sick."
She looked at me really disappointed and said, " dad, are they all gonna be sick eating ice cream?" I had no answer.
Okay honey I am going to buy ice cream for you. But you have to share with me. If you eat all the ice cream, that might make you sick".
I could see a flashing glow in her eyes. I realized kids are pure soul of the God. They are the flower of the garden. We as a parents, should know how to protect their feelings, emotions, hopes for their future. They say what they see. They ask whay they want. They cry when they like or feel they should. We should not judge them from our eyes when we behave, instead we should keep ourselves into their shoes and show the empathy.
I bought a kids size chocolate ice cream and gave it to her , "here it is hold it properly. If you drop it on the ground I am not gonna buy the next.
"Okay, it is yummy!"
"Are you gonna share with me." I said.
"No, this is mine", she shook her elbow and gave me a bitter look."
"Now you forgot your promise, right?"
"Okay, Just a small bite. She extended her hand towards my snout."
Then we went to the river side trail, walk a few meters into the forest. I asked her, " Let's go home now. Your brother and mom are waiting for the lunch. You should tell your brother all the stuffs we have done today. But don't tell him you had an ice cream."
"No, I will tell him. I will tell mom", she giggleed.
The car was already throbbing. I pressed the accelerator and adjusted the steering wheels towards 116 ST.NW.