Watching Wonder Woman with My Daughter

My daughter is ten and has spent most of her life watching superhero movies where the girls stood in the back. In June, we went to see Wonder Woman together. I didn't know how much it would mean to both of us.

When Diana walked out across no man's land, deflecting bullets with her shield, my daughter grabbed my arm so hard it left a mark. She didn't blink for the rest of the movie.

On the drive home, she was quiet. Then she said, "Mom, she wasn't scared." I told her that maybe she was a little scared and did it anyway. She thought about that for a long time.

In July, she asked for a sword-fighting class for her birthday. She's now taking fencing lessons twice a week. She stands very straight when she walks into class. On her bedroom door, there's a sign she made in marker: "No Man's Land. Enter With Courage."