“We haven’t had creamy soup for a while mom!” my daughter asked “can you make it?”
“Sure thing!”.
The cream soup is a regular meal in which I would add an entire box of 35% cream, so there are extra nutrition for my vegetarian daughter. After she asked, I planned to make it, but for whatever reason it did not happen in the past few weeks. Now, it is a very sad moment. I realized I have missed it, forever.
Two years after she became vegetarian, my daughter announced that she is now a vegan and not going to consume any animal products including eggs, honey and dairy. In the following days, she adapted herself successfully and quit her favorite meals and snacks like cereal and milk. Checking the fridge, there are plenty of omega 3 eggs, goat cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese. With my understanding of her, I am certain that she will not touch them again, likely forever. She will never take meals with milk or cheese again. I have taken pictures of her trying new recipes at home and enjoying local specials on our trips. There are numerous cuisine that I haven’t had a chance to share with her. She is going to miss all of that! It is emotional for me. It is such a sorrow.
She is determined to become a vegan and to protect animal rights. She demonstrated it in her daily life, by not touching the macaroni cheese packed for her camp lunch, by quitting her favorite ice cream and cheese cakes, and by participating in animal rights protest walking 3 hours holding a big sign made by herself: “Meat is Murder”. She promoted animal rights via social networks and convinced some of her friends to go vegan. She participated in online campaign of fundraising for animals. She made connections with founders of some major organizations and she will receive support and printing products to run a club in her school. Yesterday, she shared that she made two friends who will go to the same school and together they will organize the first animal rights club in their high school.
Today, it's her 14th birthday. The presents are shirts and pins from PETA, Anonymous for Voiceless and Vegan community. The activities are feeding birds at parking lots and baking a vegan cake at home. Tormorrow, I was requested to video tape her challenging the organizers at a farm animal show which is part of a vegan community campaign. Interestingly,this farm animal show is exactly the same one which shocked her and made her vegetarian. It sure will be another life turning point for her.
Ever, I thought parents are the tour guides. We lead the way for children and we guide them to explore the world and life. Now, my child is leading me to a way that I have never experienced nor expected. For better or for worse, supporting her is the only thing that I can do. To me, it is a stage filled with sadness, worries and happiness.
You go girl! Tears and Cheers!
