As we walked toward the bus stop, I asked you how was your day. With twinkling eyes and a beautiful smile, you said it was such a fun day today at daycare.
And I smiled back, thankful that you enjoyed your day with friends.
But you suddenly said, that somehow, it was slightly less fun.
Concerned, I asked you why.
Hugging my arm tightly, and looking up at me with those round, expressive eyes, you said, “it would have been more fun if I were with you”.
You melt my heart baby.
Apart from our shared dislike with peach, I learned recently that you have some traits that seemed to be a mirror of mine.
I bought you some new leggings and you pointed out that somebody-chan at daycare have a blouse with the same print as your leggings. I used to remember what somebody (at the office) wore at which day.
Then today, when you were playing with a branch and you called it えだ, I asked you what is it in English. You tilted your head sideways and said, “it starts with a “b””. This had me laughing right out loud because that’s what I do when I forget words. I often remember what letter it starts with, what letter it ends with, and how many letters are there on that word but I-could-not-remember the actual word. How weird is that?!?
You are my daughter alright.
We’re here. Finally you’re in the oldest class in daycare; たいよう組. Years from now, you’ll understand what an emotional point this is for me. Was able to talk to Hitonari’s Mom today and we were talking how now your class is the eldest when it seemed like it was only yesterday that you were crawling around, the youngest in the school.
It was almost symbolic actually because for the first time, you chose what to wear for today and prepared it the night before. I didn’t have to make you hurry too. In fact, you dragged me to walk faster. How much you’ve grown. And for that matter I was surprised the spring pants you’re wearing was already inches short on you when it was still a little bit long when you wore it last in autumn.
This year will be busy as we will be preparing for when you enter elementary school. But as I keep on saying, let’s enjoy the present; live the present.
Grow well, Anak. Love. Laugh. God bless you.
PS (March 30)
I learned today that your head teacher last year (my favourite!) is also your head teacher this year. I’m totally ecstatic. We owe it to her that you could seamlessly read your hiragana and katakana really fast. And you could write too!
And since this year will be full packed with activities and preparations, I am truly thankful she’s your head teacher. In hindsight though, I think the school staff thought it best that she still be your class’ head sensei because they can see our rapport. I probably am difficult to handle for them…and somehow, her level of strictness coincides with mine. Hence, I’m thankful and excited!
Today, I made you walk the equivalent of three bus stops; roughly 2 km but made more difficult as it is on a hilly area. Yes, we missed our bus and you cried when the bus didn’t wait for us even when the driver could probably see us running towards it; we were merely twenty steps away from the stop. You cried because you know I will scold you for being late; you fully know it was your fault because you dilly-dallied.
We were late (I’m late for work) and it was cold and raining and we have to walk because the bus won’t be coming for another twenty minutes and there was no taxi in sight.
It was supposed to be a difficult walk what with the rain and the biting, cold wind. But with your sunny disposition it became an enjoyable one. You pretended we were an umbrella train and were imitating the sound of a train of decades gone by. You announced the bus stops ahead and announced our arrivals to said bus stops.
You made an otherwise dreary walk into an enjoyable and memorable one. You banished the irritation I was feeling in having to endure the cold and replaced it with a happy and proud feeling.
Thank you.
I pray and hope and wish my dearest Yui that nothing and nobody, least of all me and your Dad, could dim that sunny disposition of yours. And may you keep it, and make it even brighter and sunnier as you grow old.
Love,
Mommy
For some reason, you were so enamoured with Santa and his reindeers this year. You were just so excited for his gift to you – in which you wished for My Little Pony’s Crystal Empire. Thing is, Mommy and Daddy took a long time before finally sitting down to make our order. This meant Crystal Empire can’t make it for Christmas. Time for Plan B. We had to explain properly that Santa needs help because he can’t deliver the Crystal Empire on time. That he needs you to help him by choosing your top 2 choices at Toys R Us. I had to emphasise that this is to help Santa so we will not be buying anything. Just window shopping for Santa. I know I was relying too much on your EQ. But you know what? You delivered. You really just selected your choices and not even once did you ask us to buy you anything. You were amazing. Of course you first chose Precure Transformation gadget (forgot how you called it but it’s the life size version of the gadget the Precure girls use for them to transform and my goodness how expensive it was! Your second choice was more expensive but I just did not see the value for money with the Precure gadget). Thankfully you moved on. And eventually chose the Barbie set complete with a horse and a carriage. I was teary-eyed. The last quarter of 2017, your first quarter as a 5 yr old, saw you transform from wishing for dinosaurs to wishing for girly toys. It would have been easier for me and Dad to just buy it right there and then because the queue and the crowd was so terrible. But it was Santa’s gift so I decided to go back there the following day and brave the crowd again. It was well worth it. You were giddy with joy when you woke up in the morning to find the Barbie you wished for. You were high-pitched all through out as you danced and smiled from ear to ear. The delight on your face was immeasurable reward/recompense from the tiredness of braving the crowd. You gave us a gift that’s priceless as exchange for our gift that has a tag. Thank you. By the way, on Christmas Eve, I attended the Christmas Mass and sang with the choir (you wished me goodluck in singing when I left after our Christmas dinner). When I came back home, I saw the snacks (munchkins) that you prepared for Santa. Thoughtful. 
Us talking a couple of weeks back while you’re in the toilet….
I was complimenting you about a good deed you had and how I appreciate that you have a kind heart. I then pointed out that your deed (it was related to an animal but I totally forgot what it was, sorry baby!) was similar to how little Moana protected the turtle.
Yui: I’ll be more gentle than Moana. I will carry the turtle in my arms and bring it to the water’s edge so that the bird definitely can’t eat it (this you said in mix Japanese and English).
Me: that would be gentle indeed, yes. But I’m not sure if that will be good for the turtle. You see, I think the baby turtle needs that long walk in the sand so he could get some exercise and strengthen its….flippers?? Or it’s feet. If you carry them, then their growth might be stunted.
Yui: *pensive expression on* I see….okay, I’ll just protect the baby turtle from the birds while it slowly walks towards the water. I will not allow them to eat the turtles. I will kick them! I’m brave!
Me: yes I know you’re brave and I’m glad you are. But かわいそ (poor) birds yo. They just want to eat. They may be hungry. Like us, right? When we’re hungry, we eat.
Yui: *still pensive* I see….okay, I’ll just firmly shoo them away!
You then gave me a brilliant smile. It extended all the way to my heart.
Grow up well, baby.