“They grow fast, one day she’s ya little princess, next day she talking boy business, what is this?”
-Nas- “Daughters”
Earlier this week I found out that I’m having a daughter and then yesterday one of my favorite emcees of all time, Nas, dropped a gem to the world that became a hot topic of discussion across the webosphere: “Daughters,” a single off his upcoming album Life Is Good.
I’m not even a father yet and I can see what I’m in for; the angst of being a teenage girl, boy business, lip gloss, nail polish, make-up, mean girls she’ll have to endure in high school, peer pressure, drugs, the moment she becomes a woman and the dreaded sex talk.
The thing is, when I first found out I was going to be father, after the initial crying, shock and disbelief, I said this is a good thing and thought about what I wanted, as if it were up to me, and said yes, “I’d like a little girl.”
The thought of passing on my male idiotic lessons that were taught to me by my uncles, cousins and older friends since I was a kid would only screw him up.
But Nas gave me laundry list of things coming my way, especially the moment when I can’t watch her every move anymore and she does something that will make me flip my wig.
I’m sure all fathers got that call to come get your child and I guarantee that I’ll be on the receiving end of that call one day.
As Nas puts it:
This morning I got a call, nearly split my wig
This social network said “Nas go and get ya kid”
She’s on Twitter, I know she ain’t gon post no pic
Of herself underdressed, no inappropriate shit, right
Her mother cried when she answered
Said she don’t know what got inside this child’s mind.
I’m telling myself that’ll enforce a form of discipline that will make Joe Clark look like Santa Clause, but the truth is, my daughter will have me wrapped around her little finger and I’ll be defenseless against her pretty little face.
What Nas brilliantly points out is that when you’re a father you have to expect the unexpected and the worrying will never end, nor go away.
Protecting her undesirable boyfriends who only want one thing, past stories of my own indiscretions that’ll make me look like a hypocrite when I tell her not drink and do drugs, the moment when I’ll have to inflict my own form of justice when her boyfriend hurts her.
The unending rollercoaster ride of fatherhood hasn’t even started yet, but at least I know what I’m in for even though I have no way of preparing for it.
Thanks Nas!
Shaka Griffith is the News/Politics Editor of GlobalGrind.com Follow him on twitter @Darealshaka.
