A fellow Mom asked me last Sunday, if there are cases of other babies/kids biting Yui at daycare. My reply was that the teachers take great care to avoid such cases. And if ever there are such mishaps, they apologise extensively.

And then it happened come Monday.

When I picked Yui up at daycare, the teacher came up close to me with a grave face. And then he explained how, just after lunch time, Yui’s classmate bit Yui’s right arm. That it was very red but that they applied cold compress and medicine and that after pool time the redness was gone so that now, evening time, only a faint trace is left. I got very concerned as I’ve been seeing some pushing and kicking already even when I was there (in which in those occasions, I always scold the hitting kid).

As we walked home, I kept on asking Yui what really happened, even when I know she really couldn’t explain to me nor could I understand even if she tries I explain. In which she did try to explain, her mouth in a pout as she did so.

Come bedtime and I was stroking her back, I felt the urge to start telling her to defend herself in a non-violent way. This is very difficult considering that I need to say it in a very simple way so that my barely-two-year-old daughter could understand. In a very gentle voice, I told her to defend herself and not let others hurt her. But that she should not hurt other people as well. At every end of these three points, she nodded an agreement and a “nnnnn” (which means yes for her).

Then I told her that Mommy is worried and that I hope she would fare well in her social interactions. She then sat up, her browse furrowed as if she’s irritated about something that she remembered, all the while mumbling something. And then her face cleared as if she’s reached some resolve, her face determined and resolute. I wouldn’t have had expected to see that on the face of my barely-two-year-old daughter. But what happened next was even more incredible.

She lifted her hand to stroke my head. Then she leaned on my shoulder, put her arm around me and moved her arm up and down the way an adult would comfort someone. Amazed beyond words.

With a heart like that Anak, maybe Mommy shouldn’t worry too much; you’ll definitely do great. Yet still I pray, grow well, Anak.

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We had a talk with the daycare staff and they profusely apologised. They also assured us that they will take extra care on those babies who have biting tendencies and also assured us that Yui is not being bullied at all by a classmate and that rather she always have a classmate or two whom she’s holding hands with. Relieved.