It all started the fall of 1997 when I met a gal in college that everyone called Princess Jasmine. Now that may simply be because many of them (like myself) were a bunch of white people and when they saw this beautiful young lady with a flawless dark caramel complexion, the Disney princess was the first character to come to mind. I mean, I still remember going to the movies with my family when Disney’s Aladdin came to theaters back in 1992 and nobody…I mean nobody could forget Jasmine. It might also be because this gal was simply beautiful, though not as sassy as Princess Jasmine. Either way the nickname stuck, and that gal 4 years later became my wife.

Yes, I’m skipping some of the storyline. No, I didn’t marry her just for her looks.

If we are all honest, we all have a favorite Disney princess. And if you have a daughter, every daddy will be asked and expected to answer the question, “Daddy, who is your favorite princess?” It is of your best interest to have a good answer and know why.

Well, my little girl, Calla, knows her daddy’s favorite princess, and she knows why…because Jasmine looks like Mommy.

Over the past few months specifically, as Daddy’s work schedule has been a bit more complicated than normal (especially leading up to his trip to Romania with a bunch of college students), Calla became adamant about her Jasmine doll going to work with her daddy.

Most every day, Jasmine was packed carefully in my backpack, placed prominently on my desk, brought to every meeting and returned home every day per the request of my daughter. (I did not, however, take Jasmine to Romania with me, as I did not want to have to explain the contents of my carry-on to TSA agents in hopes that they would understand a daddy’s attempt to please his daughter.)

Calla knows Daddy loves his family.

Calla knows Daddy loves Mommy.

She knows Daddy works hard to take care of his family.

She knows Daddy misses his family every moment he is away from them.

Calla knows Daddy doesn’t do well away from Mommy.

And so Calla thought it best to remind Daddy that his family misses him every moment he is away too.

And for that, this daddy is ever thankful.