I’m not saying my daughter is two-faced but she certainly does have two faces that show distinct sides of her personality.

I’ve often heard people say that you can tell a lot about a person – how intelligent they are, how honest, how kind – by their eyes. That’s a bit of a sweeping generalisation to my mind but there is a grain of truth to it too.

Face number one: Daddy’s little princess

Also known as the ‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ Face or the ‘Wrapping Daddy Around My Finger’ face, as typified by the image at the top of this post.

Look at those eyes. There you will see cheekiness. Vivacity. The infectious, full-throated laugh that is never far away at moments such as this.

This face is frequently followed by an outrageous request for a foodie treat. Or a wry observation that she finds hilarious. Or it is to cover up the fact that she has something planned for one of her brothers that she is waiting to inflict on them. There is fun in those eyes – but laced with a hint of the devil.

It’s a face that is open and sociable yet cunning and mischievous. Toby has a similar expression but his has an intensity that speaks more of a serial killer vibe. His brow furrows, his eyes dart about – taking everything in rather than expressing emotions outwardly in the way Kara does.

Face number two: You lookin’ at me?

Also known as the ‘Cross Me And I *Will* Make You Pay’ face. Or, for Game of Thrones fans, the Arya Stark ‘You’re On My List’ face.

This face is intense, challenging, defiant. Whereas Toby’s intensity belies his introverted nature – his energy and gaze is directed inward such that you can virtually see the cogs whirring inside his head – Kara’s is all extroverted. Her intensity is focussed outwards, the defiance in her eyes burrowing into you. Woe betide anyone who gets in her way.

There’s steely determination in those eyes but also a fierce intelligence mixed in with a soupçon of bossiness and a burning will to win. She’s super-competitive about everything – when you’re the youngest of three, life is a constant competition – whether she is playing Rock Paper Scissors or focussing on her school-work. This is a girl who does not like to lose at anything.

So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when she came home with her first annual school report yesterday.

Children are classified as ‘expected’ (on track), ‘exceeding’ (ahead of expectations) and ’emerging’ (not quite there yet) against 17 early learning goals. Kara was ‘exceeding’ in 15 out of 17 categories (and ‘expected’ in the other two). All this despite being a May baby and therefore relatively young in her year.

Like her brothers before her, she’s a smart cookie – and her teacher’s comments confirmed that she’s a popular girl who is progressing well with all aspects of her school experience.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Anything the boys can do, Kara will want to do better. She is the type of girl who will take on any challenge simply because it’s there.

I can see it in her eyes. I can see it in her smile. She’s all I’ve ever wanted … and now I’m just quoting Lionel Richie lyrics, aren’t I?

Love you, K. Don’t ever change.

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