Straight ahead

Angharad has taken to walking with her hands clasped behind her back, chest out, proud as you like. This is how a member of royalty might walk as they stride across their inherited and unearned estates (Oops, a bit of 'me' seeped-out there. *) Or an admiral of the fleet on his poop-deck regarding the forces arrayed before him.

It worried me at first. What if she lost her balance and fell forward onto her face? What if something jumped out in front of her before she could react? (Are you listening Kira and Meg?) Then it struck me that this stage in her perambulatory odyssey may or may not be common to all kids as they find their feet. My guess - and I'm not that obsessive that I want to check this out - is that it is a common stage and relates to balance or such like. But, and this is the point, it is a stage that perfectly sums up Angharad's character. She goes about her life with her head held high, never questioning that she has a place as of right out there in the world. She's brave and isn't worried about falling on her face, getting up again and carrying on. She steps forth into the world happily and without the need to have her hands out in front of her feeling her way.

It came out in the two parties she attended over the weekend. She's never been afraid to wander off and meet people, play with things, explore, and so on. There'll be plenty of time to teach her the necessary rules about being wary in certain circumstances or with certain people. But right now, the world is her oyster and the people in it are to be appreciated. It means that Nik and I chase-around a bit but... small price.

* post-script: the dogs are named after some transliterations we found of Hungarian phrases (they being Hungarian wire-haired viszlas and all). Kira's mother's kennel name was Lady something or other so we named her after the Hungarian word for princess - Kirahyno. When we named Meg, we decided that Princess was one royal too many for this household, so her name translated as "an honest to goodness republican" - Megyerzadaishaish republicanus". If you are Hungarian or speak it please don't write-in telling me that my translation (or my transliteration) is all over the place. I know!