This is going to be one of those stories that could be told in once sentence, but I'm going to streeeeeeeeeetch it out because I want to put it in this space so I remember. Thus, bear with me as I use too many words to explain that Mila has an invisible friend named Mila, okay?
As I over-complicate a simple thing, let me just add that I over-complicated Mila's name when she was born. Knowingly. She's Mila, pronounced with a long "i", and yes I know it's spelled wrong. It probably should be Myla, but REASONS, OKAY? That means that forever and ever, Mila is going to hear her name mispronounced. No matter what she does, all her life people are going to assume a long "e". Meeeeela, when it should be m-eye-la.
She'll live. I'll make sure to tell her to send me the therapy bill for talking through it when she's older because, again, I'm accepting full responsibility. It was definitely my choice.
This name pronounced wrong thing has already started in her life. Except, I didn't know it had started because HOW? I would think daycare people would get it right, but it turns out that there are some who don't. There are also some friends' parents who don't, apparently. What's I'm saying is that despite the fact that Mila lives in a largely auditory world and doesn't write her name on things all that often yet, somehow grown-ups have been screwing it up.
I know this because Mila recently said to me, "I'm Mila (long i) and this is my friend Mila (long e)." She was referring to her invisible friend who sometimes hangs out with us. It turns out that while Mila (long i) is aware that Mila (long e) isn't actually real, she doesn't think some adults realize that. Because they talk to her. Because who else would they be talking to when they're talking to Mila (long e)?
I don't know how long Mila (long i) will continue with this stunt where she assumes people are talking to someone else when they pronounce her name incorrectly, but I hope it's FOREVER. It really is a very effective way of dealing with life.
