Felt like it was only yesterday when I was looking forward to the day’s episode of “Cedie, ang Munting Prinsipe (Little Lord Fontleroy)”.  I can still remember the highlights where I cried buckets; the joyful feeling I’ve had with the happy scenes. 

And now, it’s our three year old who’s watching the series. Our three year old who’s so empathic in that even during the very first scene where Cedie’s father clutches his chest,  she already knew what will eventually happen to Cedie’s father. During that first chest-clutching scene, she turned to me, her face thoughtful but with an awkward smile, a smile trying to fight getting emotional. I already know that expression; she always have it when the scene touches the heartstrings. So I told her (as I always do whenever she has that expression) it’s ok to cry if she feels the emotion of the scene. She vehemently denied “not crying!” but ran away to avoid looking at the scene. 

Several scenes later, Cedie’s Dad died while Cedie was playing the flute for his Dad. During that scene, Yui was watching behind the sofa, or more like peeping from behind the sofa. When Cedie’s Dad’s lifeless arm fell, Yui covered her head with her blankie. I told her gently that Mommy also cried in that scene. The episode ended and automatically proceeded to the next (difficult) episode where Cedie and his Mom had to deal with the Dad’s loss (there was preview to the next episode). But Yui announced she doesn’t want to watch anymore. That she wanted to read a book. We usually just let her watch to her heart’s content while I’m preparing dinner. But for the first time this evening, she refused the tube and read then played instead. 

It just surprised me. How our three year old could understand such emotion. Albeit, really, it shouldn’t come as a surprise since Yui has always manifested her empathic nature even from year 1. 

And so Mommy and Daddy have to learn and pray how best to raise you, given the heart you have, baby.