Midnight Star
** Please Note- Video Issue resolved thru YouTube links. Enjoy! **
I love words. I always have. In fact, as I sit here writing, music in my ears, realizing that I read all morning today while waiting on Engineering to come and check on some repairs that are needed in the condo, it dawns on me that I feel like I’ve done nothing all day. To most people though, reading all morning wouldn’t be considered “doing nothing”. But, if I had to give up books, TV, or music…. For me TV would go.
This love of words has passed onto the Kiddo. I realized this the other day when we were playing and she told me she wished she could be nocturnal so she could see Bangkok at night. She then informed me, “but I can’t because I’m a kid and that makes me diurnal.” She’s four. How many of you needed to look up that word or take its meaning from context? Again, she’s four.
Part of that is J and myself. We read to her and with her. We encourage her to read and ask questions. We try our best to play into her imagination and keep up with her unique worlds that she creates for herself, us, and her friends (stuffed or otherwise) because we feel that it’s important for her to have the freedom to explore concepts and the world around her.
Because the world she creates is both weird and wonderful. Like this.
She took out and set all this up. While just talking to me about whatever things were on her mind. She had some questions about the mall because we went for lunch and some shopping for little things and we looked for a Thai book for her to read or practice with Nanny Beer. She had questions about the week and weekend. How many days until Valentines Day. She even had questions about the video game I’m playing these days. And she builds. Creates. Explores. But then she explains and teaches. And then you fall in. Because it’s brilliant. Not to say my kid is a genius. But the play and set up is brilliant. It’s just so completely her.
The Chinese New Year was an experience for her. It was something she looked forward to seeing. Then she got to see and experience it. But then to take it and incorporate it into her play and the world she lives in is just so great.
The Year of the Penguin.
The lions and jungle creatures were near each other. The sea creatures we all hanging out in the blue, cuz that’s the water part. Bugs go here because that’s the bug area, but also because of habitat it’s the most comfortable to them. And think about that. She’s four and it’s brilliant. There is so much different learning and vocabulary in just her explaining her play. And she used a real life thing and incorporated it into her imagination and world. A stage. A focal point. A crowd. Groups of people based on unique characteristics or family groupings. I’m amazed.
And then it’s time for dinner prep. Because that’s her other jam right now. She’s tasting everything coming out of the kitchen these days. Raw and cooked. Not that I’m feeding her raw chicken and pork. Ginger, lemon and lime including the rind (Mmmmm, dada, it’s sweeter), tomatoes, bell pepper, salt and pepper both, fruits, and anything else. Even uncooked tofu. And I can not tell you how damned proud of her I am for that.
She helps me peel carrots and cucumbers. She asks questions about how and why things get cut certain ways. How people figured out to eat certain foods or why the are cut and prepared in certain ways. And then…. Can I try?
Yes. Yes Kiddo, you can try. Anything you like. Try everything. Then try it again on a different day, because sometimes results vary.
She’ll also try. She knows she can attempt without scolding or shame. She was just learning how to use pinches of salt and pepper for seasoning and how to best cover or get onto the food. And look at her. Look at the skill. Focus. But the questioning and giving of opinion when asked.
All of this, read and look above, is Kiddo. All while she has been dragged half way around the world on this crazy adventure, thrust into a culture and language she doesn’t understand, as the world turns upside-down and inside out. Cars became Grabs. Money become Baht. Hello became Sawadee.
For posterity and the record, I am so proud of her. As a person. As my child. As a kid in general. As a traveler. Her confidence. Her ability to grasp and understand. Her ability to use her words and understand her feelings. All of it. She is four and she is better than I. She is my favorite thing, my best thing, my greatest love. Not to take anything away from J, but it’s a completely different love.
*****
I wrote the above over the course of the last few days. Today, Kiddo is with Nanny Beer. They’ve been playing all day. Around lunch time, I popped in on them and got caught up. Nothing special, just playing. However, Kiddo asked….
What’s for dinner, Dada?!?
I was thinking stir fry. Going to the market to check produce. Otherwise, I’ll go to Tops and get Pork Chops.
Oh good. I hope stir fry. I’ll help ya do dinner prep!
That’s fine. Nanny Beer can have 15 minutes or so where she’s not dealing with the whirling dervish that is Kiddo. Besides, I get a sous chef and taste tester. Plus the million questions.
Why, when, where, how, when, what, how, when, what, why, how, who, what, why?
I will never get those days back. She’ll never be 4 again. And yes, it slows down cooking. But I don’t care. Cooking is an important skill. Bonding is an important act. Special time together can’t be replaced.
Let’s go, Kiddo. My hand isn’t gonna hold itself crossing the street and I want you to know that you are always gonna be my Kiddo and I’ll always be your Dada. Happy Valentines Day and I love you.
Comments