Yes, we hear that a lot. I am not ashamed to brag about it either, since we had nothing to do with her genetics. It’s like someone telling you there is a beautiful view from your street. Sure it’s your street, but it’s not like you put the mountain vista there.
When we first brought the Babe home and people proclaimed, “Oh, she’s so sweet! So cute!” I’d catch myself saying things like, “Yes, isn’t she?!” I was so enchanted with her sweet face myself, I didn’t realize that a more socially-acceptable response is “thank you.”
Because, of course, biological parents can take the “what a beautiful baby” compliment as a compliment on their own looks. Not as though they chose the specific genes to pass on to their offspring–“Let’s see. We’ll pick daddy’s eyes and mommy’s nose and teeth, but grandma’s curly hair and grandpa’s long legs.”–but the whole looks-like-us element for those families is, in effect, a two-level compliment. So when someone says, “Such a beautiful baby,” parents are flattered and say thanks.
Not so with the Babe. We just plain lucked out. And when people tell me she’s beautiful, I respond: she IS! We are so lucky! Perhaps biological parents feel that way too–I don’t know (do you?). But I’ve definitely had to practice my “oh, thank you so much” response when she gets compliments. Luckily, I’ve had lots of opportunities.
Because she is beautiful. So, so beautiful.
And she is our daughter.
