My daughter Savanah and I collaborated on writing a book during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when she was six years old. At the time, we were living in Saudi Arabia, and COVID-19 restrictions prevented us from leaving our compound. This time together was a gift. Between our virtual sessions, kitchen experiments, gardening, and outdoor adventures, we found inspiration in Savanah's two fascinations: her love of shoes and her incredible talent for coming up with imaginative creations. Savanah had a peculiar fascination with shoes, that didn't translate into actually wearing the shoes. She would often be seen running around barefoot, riding her scooter or playing in the mud in the garden barefoot. As a result, she sustained many scrapes, bruises, and scars on her toes, feet, and ankles. Despite the occasional tears and moments of concern, Savanah's refusal to wear shoes outside brought some much-needed comedy to our home. We would find ourselves laughing at her escapades, turning each non-shoe-wearing attempt into a delightful and memorable event. In addition to her love of shoes, Savanah had a knack for imaginative creations. She would spend some days collecting trinkets outside and use them to build things like picture frames, quirky sculptures, or even an insect hotel. Her mind seemed to be a boundless playground of ideas, and it was a joy to witness her turning everyday objects into works of art. As we delved into the creative process, we decided to memorialize both Savanah's love of shoes, her imaginative inventions, and her friendships in the pages of our book. Her unique perspective and boundless imagination shone through the narrative that she help to craft. Through this collaboration, not only did we create a book that we both cherish, but we also strengthened the mother-daughter bond we share. As she continues to grow and pursue her dreams, I know that Savanah's positive outlook on life, her energy, and her resilience will always be an essential part of who she is, and I look forward to more adventures with her, whether in writing another book or exploring new creative endeavors together.
