Nagib will probably never forgive me for this post. But some stories simply MUST be told!
Yesterday, I witnessed something absolutely priceless. Nagib playing Barbie with Amaal.
And let me tell you, this was no ordinary Barbie playdate. Opa was ALL IN!
First came the selection of Barbie. You would think this would be straightforward. Not a chance! There was a full-blown disagreement about which Barbie to choose. Both had opinions. Strong ones. Eventually, negotiations concluded, and it was time to get Barbie dressed.
What should she wear? Shiny shoes or regular shoes? Which outfit? And how exactly does one get these ridiculously tiny clothes onto a doll?
At one point, Nagib announced to Amaal that Barbie was WAY stiffer than baby Zuri! And that started discussion and negotiations on the best way to dress Barbie.
Then came the grand unveiling of Barbie’s dream house. They opened it up to reveal the magnificent rooftop terrace, complete with deck chairs and an umbrella. The two of them admired it with such pride and satisfaction, you would have thought they’d spent the last six months designing and building the place themselves! I was half expecting Nagib to announce an open house!
Next came a serious consultation about Barbie’s hair. Which brush? Which tools? What was the correct technique? Clearly, Barbie’s grooming standards were not to be compromised.
And finally, bedtime. The Barbies were carefully tucked into bed in their beautiful home. And then came the instructions. EVERYONE had to be quiet. The Barbies were sleeping!
I watched this entire production with absolute delight.
Here was my husband, a man who approaches most things in life with great seriousness, applying that same dedication to Barbie’s wardrobe, hairstyle, real estate and bedtime routine!
But what touched me most wasn’t the comedy of it all. It was watching a grandfather enter his granddaughter’s world so completely. No distractions. No rushing. No suggesting they do something else.
Just Opa and Amaal, deeply immersed in a world of imagination, tiny shoes, rooftop terraces and sleeping Barbies.
Sometimes love isn’t about doing something extraordinary. It’s about making the ordinary feel extraordinary to someone you love.
And yesterday, love looked like a grandfather arguing over Barbie’s shoes with his granddaughter.
I think my heart grew three sizes.
P.S. Nagib, if you’re reading this, I love you. And I promise not to mention your new expertise in Barbie fashion consulting at the next family gathering.
Well, maybe.
