Boys, Girls and Jeeps

So Jovey got a new Jeep that Joshua found for great price at Once Upon a Child. It's not pretty and girly, but Jovey drives it and surprisingly enough, drives it well! Plus, it has two seats, so she can't wait to drive Laney around when she "gets to be a bigger girl."

Yesterday, we took her out for a ride in the parking lot (we live right next door to the church where my husband is on staff). She drove around, waving and of course, looking too cute in her fuzzy hat. About 10 minutes into her afternoon drive, she paused, unbuckled herself, got out and went around to sit in the passenger seat, fastening her seat belt and all. We heard her mumbling the quiet dialogue that goes on between she and her imaginary friends she has at different times, and Joshua decided to ask.

"Jovey, what are you doing? Why are you sitting on that side of the jeep."

"Well, Daddy, only boys can drive Jeeps and Pretend Parker is gonna drive us now!"

"Oh, well, it's ok. Girls can drive jeeps too, so maybe we can let Pretend Parker just ride this time and you can drive him around~!"

"OK, daddy!" She unbuckles, walks around to the other side, buckles up again, says, "OK, a little music" (Nicole, I hope that isn't "mood music") and proceeds on another excursion around the parking lot.

Now, before anyone sends me nasty comments about women's rights, let it be known that one of her bestest friends, Parker, owns a jeep, the first one she ever rode in, and with her young age, we thought it best for only Parker to drive both she and his little sister, and another best friend of Jovey's, Lillie, around the yard for safety sake. I guess she was thinking, "safety first, women's lib second!"

I just love the innocence of childhood. She doesn't know that some people would have my hide for such a comment, thinking I'm teaching my child to be a weak woman. On the contrary. I pray every day she will be strong, independent and confident in all she aspires to do. Joshua and I, of course, tell her that she has wonderful opportunities in this great big world, but we also will hope that she will find that Biblical submission will not be too hard to comprehend when it comes to her relationship with a future husband, if that relationship is to be the healthiest and most effective.

My prayer right now is that she stays in the driver's seat right now, in complete control of her destiny and what God has out there for her in this life He has created for her, not just sitting back, waiting for life just to happen at the hands of others'.