Kajal hasn't identified with super heroes, until now. After watching countless episodes of the Last Airbender Kajal has fallen in love with Katara the Waterbender. She's completely identified with her and has started wearing her hair in two little braids that stick out from her lovely head. She's asked to be the character for Halloween and I've already spent countless hours searching the web for a pattern or decent costume. It's adorable. The character excites Kajal and seems to give her strength. Yesterday she didn't want to leave for school until her braids were done and something in me realized I needed to take the time to do them vs. try and rush her out the door. I felt it was important to help her feel strong and secure in her daily world and in a way, those little braids, did that for her.

Of all the characters Kajal could be drawn to, I love that it's a little girl from another part of Asia who is kind, brave and passionate... personality traits that my own Kajal exudes.

Quite a while ago I was actively involved in the Starllight Children's Foundation. I was a wish granter and spent countless hours granting wishes for children who were seriously ill. This was one of the most precious experiences of my life. Getting to know children during their time of illness and helping them find hope through the granting of their most precious wishes. During this time I got to know some very special healthworkers as well. One particular Doctor from the New Medical Center in Boston taught me about psycho-neuro immunology. Mind over body........that healing truly can happen, even in the most dire of circumstances, through the power of the mind. He was a Pediatric Oncologist and with some patients, he would have them pretend that they were a superhero fighting their disease. In some cases, the children would close their eyes and imagine their 'inner superhero' flying through their body, killing all the cancer cells.

I was blessed to meet one child who had lived much longer than originally projected. His family directly connected his survival to that point to his identification with a particular superhero and the work they did with this special doctor.

Kajal has survived so much trauma, carries so many painful inner memories from her days in India. If identifying with a little girl superhero can help her feel stronger... more able to take on daily challenges, then so be it. I'll sit and watch episodes of the Last Airbender and I'll braid her hair.... whatever helps her grow stronger, more sure of herself and her capabilities.

I have to admit, I've never sewn a thing and as I was contemplating (stressing over) how to draw a pattern to try and create Katara's outfit for Halloween, I came across a Kurti of Kajal's. An authentic Indian outfit... I asked Kajal to try it on and as we tied the scarf around her waste as a sash we realized it was the perfect costume! Katara had come to life before our eyes! Kajal was thrilled, dancing around her bedroom as she pretended to bend water (we went to the pool that day so Kajal could practice her waterbending skills) her little braids flying out from either side of her face.

So here she is, my little warrior princess.. happy and strong with the help of a very special cartoon character.