Dia is a happy child… but she’s also deeply inquisitive, fiercely opinionated, emotionally intense and wonderfully expressive. You can’t simply ask her to do things.. you need to explain, convince, create an experience around it, make it fun, and most importantly, make her feel heard and respected through it all. Traditional and cultural functions don’t always leave much room for those needs… especially when they come from an 8-year-old 😅 So going into Dia ko Ihi, my biggest priority was her comfort. The days leading up to it, I tried to make sure she felt okay in what she would wear, agreeing on the hair and makeup she wanted, preparing her for the expectations of the day, warning her about the endless photo requests she’d probably have to politely entertain 😅 and constantly reminding her that I would be right beside her through all of it (as witnessed in these photos) 😂 Because for me, preparation will always matter more than presentation. As parents, I truly believe our primary job is this — preparing our children for life while making sure they feel safe, supported and seen as they navigate it. And if we can do all that while also getting fabulous photos… well, that’s a big win 😂 Well done Diu 🤍 You did so good, with and without food 😉 Saris made at @muku_boutique HMUA @shreeja_hmua Photos by @kidreyaz