A hat is just a hat, right?

A hat is just a hat, right?
On this saturday morning, San went out to do some gardening. It was a sunny day, so San donned a hat. Then came G, who's now getting to the age of trying-to-be-like-mom-and-dad, decided to follow suit. She only had one hat, which is the Viking's cap that we bought from the Lego store.

A hat is just a hat, right?

G Does Gardening

It's hard to appreciate gardening when one was young - it's sweaty, dirty, itchy, and the plants never show any sign of affection, or can never be taught any tricks. But as one gets older, one appreciates gardening for being one of the very few predictable things in the world - it follows a natural course, responds to known environmental conditions, and unlike many endeavors in life - your hard work always translates to results that can be seen. There's also a philosophical aspect of gardening that's fascinating: it's an attempt to guide the course of nature in a humble way. You can't rush things, and you can't go overboard in changing the environmental factors - but nonetheless you bend the great forces of nature in a humble, patient manner, to serve you. It's both empowering and humbling.

G enjoys gardening too. But only the part where she gets to play with water, or shovel the soil.

The little adult

And so she has come to age, some one and a half decade early. She insisted to choose her own cloths, to put on glasses, like dad, and to carry a handbag, like .... eh ... even mom hardly carries a handbag, so I wonder where she got that idea from. Don't assume the bag is just a superficial accessory - in the bag are her toy mobile phone, comb, and other ladies' stuffs.

The teacher at school told mom just last week that G acted and spoke like a little adult. Today, G is still only 2 years and 7 months old.

Another milestone for G - schooling!

There are a few major events in the kids' growing up process that parents never forget - the first time they flip over, the first step, the first word, and of course, the first day of school. Just two and a half years go, I held in my arm, a new born, warm and bloody, fresh from the oven, so to speak, all tightly swaddled up; and now, I am looking at a little girl, in her freshly washed over-sized uniform, carrying a little school bag, filled with a fresh set of cloths, fruits, a water bottle, and boundless excitment and anticipation, all geared up to attend school. Life ahead is a journey of making discoveries, building wisdom, experiencing both joy and grief. It's a going to be a long journey, and having been through that ourselves, how we wish we could walk all the difficult paths for her, and leave her with only the joyous moments. Alas, but she has to walk that path by herself.

And so today she takes her first step out of her comfort zone. And out of ours too.

Discovering the kitchen

 

"Every corner hides a new adventure - I just knew it! ...."

G exploring the new kitchen.

Handwriting

G attempts to write, mimicking Mama's handwriting. On the left is Mama's series of binaries. On the right is G's copy.

G insisting to help

I've noticed how families are getting disconnected these days. During family dinners, you can see each member fully engrossed in his/her own activities - sms'ing on the phone, playing games on the psp, or simply looking dazed and disinterested. Doing things together as a family is now a premium activity.

So I really can't complain when G insisted to help with the window cleaning. This will surely not last forever. In a few years' time, I would have to beg her to turn down the volume of her iPod, or to go out for a family dinner together, or to have a few words during family outings.

I treasure and appreciate every minute of this.