Kids are amazing. No matter what they do to annoy the he'll out of you, there is always that moment, right around the corner that restores that smile on your face.

Case in point is my daughter. Cut little thing, but the "Terrible Three's" are not doing her any justice. Now I know I am fortunate to not have one of those "bad-assed" kids, I have one of those "Independent Spirits."

I could also say that she inherited that from me, but then I would be hit with the whole "what goes around" comments. Truth is, I realized last night that I am dealing with a personality very much like my own.

That is what scares me the most. I know I can be very stubborn, self centered and down right indignant at times and I am facing that amplified in her. At the same time I also know that there are also strengths; leadership, creativity, determination, will, basically many things that will serve her well in life.

I struggle at times in trying to figure out how to deal with what is essentially a mini-female version of me. In the end it is always the love that overpowers everything as I catch the occasional glimpse of that tiny souls that I cupped on my palms just moments after her entrance into this world. Her smile calms me and she knows it; even while pushing those buttons she has learned, quickly grab my attention.

Oh, have to run now, she's peeking around the corner, obviously into something she knows I would not be happy about.