Malaika's Bad Day(s)

Malaika's a 6 year old princess whom I have known since at least 2004; maybe longer. She's a pretty strong, coordinated kid in the junior advanced program...pretty athletic; but this video isn't about that.

It's about those breakdown moments in the gym, which aren't unique just to her (remember: videos don't tell the whole truth!). But she certainly does have them, in dramatic fashion.

One of the "best", was when teacher Lilly quit suddenly, leaving Al to teach the junior class. Malaika let loose with the waterworks. Even though she knew Al, she was carrying on about how she didn't want "no strange man teaching me!" Al was short on patience for that sort of nail-on-the-chalk-board drama that day, and I thought he was going to tear his hair out or send Malaika packing. I think she eventually did join the class.

She is an extremely funny kid, crammed full of personality and oddball sayings. It may seem odd and cruel to capture a person's worst moments in life; but this video was made with love and affection; and somehow, recording the drama in a little kid's life can be something that hopefully even Malaika can look back upon and laugh at (or perhaps recognize how ridiculous some of her moments were, and...um...cease and desist, and not carry on so in the future? Yeah, right....).



I did receive Stacey's (Malaika's mom) blessings on this project, at least 2 years in the making. I just had to include the closing credit footage in its entirety; it was worthy enough to stand alone as a clip. Somehow, like the clip of Anna smiling with the orange in her mouth while Malaika is in misery next to her, seeing Malaika crying from a collision in the mommy & me class, contrasted to the summer camp girls singing along to "If you're happy", just seemed deliciously funny to me.

But maybe that's just me.

Here's to posterity and "bad" memories made good!