There’s lots of stories to tell you about this little boy, Yui. And all of them good ones. He treats you with much gentleness and care and respect like an adult man would do to an adult woman that he loves. And Mommy is thankful to him that even as a baby, you’ve known such gentleness already.
Probably one of the most difficult things a parent has to do is knowing when to give your child a helping hand and when to hold yourself at bay and let your child be. You don’t want your child to be crippled with dependence and yet you don’t want to see your child helpless.
Yet again, I had that moment early this evening, seemingly mundane though it may be for older kids. I was then putting my coat in the closet, intent on helping Yui with her layers after depositing our bags. Before I turned to her though, she called my attention and was already handing over to me her outermost winter vest. She earned a praise for this since she was able to work through the zipper. She then went on unzipping her second jacket. I know this one will be more difficult than the vest because of the almost tight sleeves. And so as she struggled I was also struggling within, whether I should go and help her already. A lump was already forming in my throat and 99% of me wanted to assist her especially since she called out “Mommy” already.
But thankfully, I sided with the 1% of me and held my ground. To remove the lump on my throat, I cheered her on, told her she can do it, told her to have some strategy. She kept an eye contact with me and I tried to muster an encouraging expression, a smile on my face while cheering her on.
When she was finally able to remove the jacket, the look on her face was priceless; there’s that unmistakable joy of achievement for doing something by herself. So glad I held on. If I had helped her, I would have had robbed her of that joy of achievement.
We pray we’ll have the wisdom to always know when to lend a hand or when to just sit back and encourage.
The crayons were packaged arranged like this.
But Yui thinks it should be arranged like this, where the crayon tip touches the color indication. Makes sense.
We were on our way to daycare when (as usual) we spotted a dog.
Mommy: Look Yui, there’s a cute dog over there.
Yui: Shippo shippo (pointing to her behind at the same time).
Mommy: yes, dogs have tails ne. Shippa, shippa (I was then making a mental note that shippa is Japanese for tail)
Yui: shiPPO. Shippa nai (not shippa)
And so it has begun. 😀
Was looking hurriedly for stickers for Yui to be occupied with during train rides. As I was looking around for medium sized ones, Yui was pointing for the teeny tiny sticker set – stickers which were as small (or even smaller!) than her fingernails. I told her that it would be difficult because they’re very small; that we should buy the bigger one. But she was insistent. So Mommy gave in and allowed her to put it in the basket together with the medium sized one.
Back home, she worked on her selection first. If truth be told, Mom was surprised. The teeny tiny stickers were no feat at all for our little one; sticking them on the paper in a fast and efficient way. Yet again another reminder to never ever underestimate your child.
Yui’s doing well with deed no.2 in the toilet, sans fancy kiddie tool. Especially now that she’s started to verbalise what she wants, it’s been easier. She just need to learn though when she just need to fart or to do deed number 2. Because even when she feels like farting, she still tells us “chan no toilet!”. 🙂
Admittedly, I’ve been preparing myself to the possibility that it would take a year more for pee/oshikko training. Sure she peed every now and then at the toilet but she’s still not consistent. So I’ve decided to buy her this toilet training pants/diapers in which after three pees, Yui can already feel the wetness. Overnight diaper would still be the usual pants/diapers though.
Good luck Yui!