A conversation that took place a few weeks before Mila’s fourth birthday:
Mama: Where were you before you came into mommy’s tummy?
Mila: I don’t know.
Mama: But, how did you get into mommy’s tummy?
Mila: I found you. I picked you. Then I came in and I ate and I grew.
Mama: ohhh…(heart melting…) and, what about daddy?
Mila: I picked him too. that daddy.
Mama: Why did you pick us?
Mila: Because I liked you guys. I just liked you.
Mama: ……wow, I’m so lucky….(hugs…………….)
A few mornings later…
Mama: How did you find mommy and daddy?
Mila: I followed your footsteps.
Mama: Where were our footsteps?
Mila: In the sand.
Mama: Oh.
Mila: You and Daddy were having a picnic. You were eating sandwiches.
Mama: Oh.
Mila: Then I came into your tummy and told you to go to Portland.
Mila was conceived on Kauai where her dad and I had picnics in the sand. When I was five months pregnant, I kept getting this feeling to move to Portland, OR, a place I had only spent two days in my entire life.
Reema Datta 