When I have a little girl...

For my beautiful Elpida.

When I have a little girl... She can wear party dresses to school. She can be fresh to unpleasant people. She can go through all my bureau drawers... and try on rings and bracelets and scarves without asking. She can have a party every week... and go to a restaurant once a month and order whatever she wants. She can go without a coat or hat or boots... the very first warm day... even if it snows again later. She can let her hair grow.............................................. as long as she wants. She can have a friend stay overnight whenever she wants. And one bath a week will be enough. And nobody will tell her in winter to stop eating snow. Or in summer to come out of the sea even if she is turning blue. She can touch the fur collars of ladies in front of her on the bus or train... or standing in line. And she can pat any dog she wants without asking if it's friendly. (She'll know. I always do.) She can tell anything she wants about me to anyone she wants. She can always answer the phone and talk first to anyone who calls even if it's business. She can have a new box of crayons every week even if the older ones are still good and just not pointed anymore. She can uncover the leaves around the crocus shoots and then cover them up if it should snow again. She won't have to be home before dark, so she will be able to see the moon rise. And she can get up in the morning before it's light and go out in her nightgown to watch the sun come up. She can give milk to all the cats and if they don't go away afterward... they can live with her. When I have a little girl all the rules will be different. And I will never say to her, "When you are a mother you will understand why all these rules are necessary." My mother says... her mother used to say it too.