Fighting Monsters, My Daughter’s Way

One of the reasons I love my kids so much is because they’re so pure in the way they approach the world.

Take video games, for example. As a family, we play Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’s technically a one-player game, but we’ve all got our own accounts—me, my husband, and my three older kids (13, 11, and 8). Throughout the day, you’ll find one of us on it.

Now, my husband and my boys (13 and 8) are pretty good at the fighting part of the game. My daughter and I? We’re more into the exploring side. But, being slightly competitive—and sometimes harassed by her brothers—my daughter likes to prove that she can take down the big monsters too.

So, one day, she decided to challenge a Gleeok. For those who don’t play, that’s a massive, three-headed dragon—one of the toughest monsters in the game. It took her about twenty minutes to fight this thing, and I was in silent hysterics the entire time, sitting on the couch behind her with the baby.

Because here’s how she fought it:

Her “trash talk” wasn’t your typical competitive banter. No. In the sweetest, sing-song voice, she’s saying things like:

“You’re such a big bully, and we don’t like bullies. I’m going to beat you because you’re a bully. Being a bully isn’t nice, and monsters who aren’t nice get beaten up.”

Then, mid-fight, she gets flustered:

“Oh my goodness, you’re about to attack me—I better go hide under this rock!”

And up she scrambles, back on top of the rock, starting the dialogue all over again:

“You’re a bully, and I’m going to stop you…”

Meanwhile, she’s not button-mashing like my boys. She’s calm. Strategic. Poking at the dragon when it counts, retreating when she needs to.

I was shaking with laughter behind her because it was just so different from the way her brothers approach the game—full of wild yelling, mashing buttons, charging headfirst like little warriors.

But her way? Gentle, funny, and somehow just as effective. She beat the dragon—with kindness, commentary, and a rock for backup.

And it made me realize again that kids can take the exact same challenge and approach it in such completely different ways. Boys, girls, personalities—it all shows up, even in the middle of a video game.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.