Last night after work, Remy and I wanted to get into some kind of adventure. So, we went and ate some pizza at Breadeaux (always go local when you can!), and then decided to watch a movie. The one that was available for us was “Moana,” a story about a Hawaiian (or maybe Polynesian?) princess. It was a really cute movie, and if you like sing-alongs, really cool graphics and stories about heroine-princesses, ancient gods and triumph through adversity, it’s a good show for kids.

Afterwards, as we often do, Remy and I discussed the movie. She exclaimed that it was “The Best movie she’d ever seen!” (which she says after every movie). I asked her what she liked about it, and she said, “That girl, even though she was young, risked everything to save her people. She was a hero, daddy!” She grinned wildly from the back seat as we made our way home in the dark.

Yes, I assured her, that girl was a hero. I felt that as a father, I had one of those epiphany-type moments, and I could teach my daughter a valuable life lesson here (you know, us fathers always think that we have some sort of amazing knowledge to impart, right?) So I asked her, “That little girl in the movie never gave up, and put herself in danger to save her people. Do you think that you could do the same thing, to take care of your people?”

She thought about it for a second and said, “I probably could, but it would take a long time to take care of all of my people!”

I laughed, thinking she was talking about her cousins and family and school friends, and asked her, “And just who are your people, that you would be willing to sacrifice everything to save?”

Her response taught me a lot more than I was teaching her. She smiled and said, “Duh! All humans are my people daddy. Everyone deserves someone who will take care of them when bad things happen.”

I hope that as we all gather this week with family and friends, that we remember that lesson, and, as you’re being thankful for what you do have, that you remember that not everyone is so fortunate. It’s a good thing this world is filled with hero six year-olds.

Also, it’s really hard to drive home in the dark when your eyes are leaking.