As we prepare to celebrate our daughter’s second birthday, I am amazed at how quickly she is growing up. Since she was born, I have taken pictures and videos of her (I think I now have hundreds of them).
While on the subway on our way to her daycare, whenever I want her to keep quiet, I would give her my phone so that she can watch her own videos. I am amazed how, at almost two years old, she knows how to use a phone. She knows where to find the videos; if she does not like one of them, she knows how to switch to the next one. It’s simply incredible. She can do stuff with the phone that even I don’t know how to do.
If she is not using the phone, she simply starts to sing. She sings so loudly that people on the subway can't help but watch and laugh (I think she is the next Celine Dion). As soon as we get off the train, she begins greeting everybody that we meet with a high five while continuing to sing. It’s quite a journey; and what I have shared with you is only what happens during our morning journey to her daycare.
She is so excited to see me when I return to pick her up in the afternoon. As soon as she sees me, she stops all that she was doing and runs towards me shouting “daddyyyyy”. She is so excited to see me until we get to her stroller. That is when she starts asking me “what do you have for me today?” I better have something, a snack or anything; or otherwise I am in trouble. In terms of food, she is really like her dad. As soon as she finishes her snack, it’s singing time again, until we get home.
Just the other day, on our way to church we passed by a homeless guy who was begging for money. She saw him and offered him the biggest smile I have ever seen, and she offered him her usual high five. I was amazed!
She is only two years old but she is teaching me many lessons. I didn't realize how much she had grown until I looked at her pictures from last year. Isn’t it the same for us? We go through life, sometimes complaining that we haven’t reached our goals, until we look back at where we were a year ago. It is certainly the case when it comes to me. I am not where I want to be, but thank God I am not where I used be (especially last year).
Her loud and innocent singing on the subway always amazes me, because she doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She sings regardless of who is there, and people love it. I wonder how would people perceive an adult who did the same thing? My guess is that people would think there is something wrong with him or her. But when it comes to my daughter they view her as expressing her joy with no fear of being judged. I wish I could do the same.
How about the homeless guy? She doesn't even know if he is homeless. She just smiles at him and gives him a high five. In my mind, I am judging the guy, but she is offering him what she has: a smile and a high five. If only I could do that with everybody.
I can go on and on, because I am learning from her constantly. Like her way of asking me “what did you bring for me today?” It is a reminder for me to always go boldly and ask for what I want. Two days ago, I was rushing to get to the daycare on time, and I did not pass by the store to get her snack. Well you probably guessed what happened; I got into serious in trouble.
As I am write this blog early in the morning, I can’t wait for her to wake up so that I could learn one more lesson from her. Maybe today I will take some singing lessons. That would be really tough for her as I am a hopelessly bad singer.
Moral of the story? Do you want to learn life lessons? Just go to the daycare and you will eat some snacks.
Always a pleasure
Patrick
The Journeyman
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