Little Esasina

Hiii there readers!

My name is Esasina Padikwor Kodjo.

Growing up,I had low self esteem because in school most of the boys said I was too skinny,some also said I had Chinese eyes,others laughed at my interesting dental formation.I remember going to the optician and intentionally failing the eye chart test because I wanted to wear spectacles to cover my eyes.

Mummy and Daddy always told us(my sister and me), we were beautiful but it was hard to believe after hearing all the mean comments from some of my classmates.I never showed my teeth in family portraits and whenever I laughed out loud I involuntarily covered my mouth.

To top it all,I was one of the girls who developed slowly in my class,when every girl was in sports bras,I was still in singlets.The flat chested girl!!

I was an average student so I never received any award on speech and prize giving day.I was such a talkative too so the best behaved student always passed me by.I loved school but everything around me made me wonder if I was normal.The struggle was real.

I am the little girl on your left in the green dress.

I don’t know when the tables turned but things changed but I became more confident and comfortable with who I was.

I will share one bold  step I took because I wanted a birthday party …

My Daddy always gave me a new diary every year so I cultivated the habit of writing down my thoughts,secrets and plans.

A week to my 13th birthday,I had written down a plan for my birthday party.I had a guest list,venue,party activities and shopping list,all written down in my diary and planned out in my head.I needed a good and opportune time to tell my parents.

Whenever I needed a favor from my parents,I either gave them breakfast in bed or swept their room.So I made breakfast,put it on a tray and knocked on their door.It was a Saturday morning and my Mummy  and my Daddy  started laughing just when I entered their bedroom.I put the tray down and told them my plans.I guess I started event planning years ago.

“Mummy and Daddy,please on my 13th birthday,I want a party at Alisa hotel by the poolside.I want a birthday cake from Frankies. I am inviting Harriet,Maame Yaa, Selom, Yaw, Caleb…etc (about 12 people).Mummy can prepare the food(my Mummy is an amazing caterer).Daddy and I can buy the invitation cards from the Card shop in Osu. We can tell Uncle Eddie to help us with getting more information “(Uncle Eddie is a family friend who was part of the staff at Alisa Hotel. )After my presentation,my Daddy said it was on short notice but he will start making inquiries.The 12 year old in me was excited,little did I know that my party was not coming off.

During the week,my Daddy drove me to Alisa Hotel and we were told the place had been booked plus the hotel’s policy did not allow food from external sources during events(so the idea of Mummy catering went out the window).Up until now,I wonder whether it was a plan between Uncle Eddie and my Daddy  or not.After they gave us the bad news,we went back home.

On my birthday that week,my family surprised me with a birthday dinner at a Chinese restaurant,only for me to order chicken and chips…

There are many ways to say No! to your child without being very harsh or insensitive.

I love my parents for the many decisions they made to straighten me up.

I hope you enjoyed reading.

With Love,

Esasina. xoxo