Learn from a 3 year old sometimes...

I love kids, and I want to have kids. I am very vocal about it, however; at the moment I do not have one. My heart was captured by so many children and this recent Las Vegas trip was memorable. A girl named Skye touched my heart.

Let me start by saying that my Jellie who is now a teen will always be my first love when it comes to children. I remember leaving that sweet three and a half year old girl who calls me "Teddy" and being absent in her childhood was one of the saddest things that I have experienced. I will never be able to go back to those moments. I still remember going to the 3-4 years old clothing department to buy dresses. While that memory lapse was fun for a few minutes, I will snap back to reality and realize that we have a teen. I have to go to bigger sizes. Gone were the days that I have to complete her Barbie dolls from Cinderella to Mulan. Previously, with the addition of Merida from Brave, then come the Frozen characters Ana and Elsa. I had to complete them. To see her smile was a priceless gift.

Fast forward to circa 2020, I finally, met this little girl in the car when my friend, Joyce picked me up from one of the hotels in Las Vegas strip. Although I have seen her on facetime chat and of course when she was a baby when I visited her three years ago. Oh boy, she was shy when I said "Hi Skye." She acknowledged my presence with a small grin. She was too enthralled with her iPad, flip flopping to Frozen and to vampire kid cartoon which I am not super familiar with. She will give me the look, and I remembered that look from someone I know the older version of her. Yup, her mom knows and she admitted. It was funny to see the resemblance, yet, I agree with Joyce that she looks like her dad.

Mini Salon with Ninang and Skye

You know how kids are, they are slow to warm up with you and once they do, be ready for all the tricks they will show you. She slowly started speaking and interacting. I will touch her forearm to squeeze her, and she will pull away just because I am a new face to her. Once we were home, she was livelier and the more enthusiastic. Her energy, so infectious that I marvel how could she be awake at two in the morning. She showed her new scooter, her riding skills and her new toys.

Be patient and be fun while waiting for things to happen. Be inclusive and be sensitive to other's needs.

I love how inclusive she was. I am part of the roll call, for watching Grey's Anatomy, meal time and for going out. Even when we are out, before she gets into the car, when we are going out of the restaurant or out in the trail in Valley of Fire State Park. Yes, you read it. She watches Grey's Anatomy. I was never forgotten, she will look for me as if I was living in their house for the longest time. Moreover, as if I am part of the household. It touched my heart, and I will never forget it.

I braided her hair on my second day of visit. My braiding skill is so fabulous that I can make kids quiet and sit still. It is proven, you can ask my friends. She was kind enough to let me touch her hair and I was surprised that she stayed that long because I made the braid more complicated than what I wanted to. She was getting antsy at some point, but I calmed her down by me singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "Someone to Watch Over me", "If I ain't got you", "Thinking of you" and "Beauty and the Beast." I am sure none of those she knows but she knew that I have a task to finish. When, it was done, she ran to her dad to show it off and the grin on her face melted my heart. I felt proud of it as well because someone appreciated the work I did. You rarely get that nowadays, at least a child did for me that day and it was more than enough.

She continued to surprise me the next day when she was pushing her Mom to wake me up so I can braid her but I was on my afternoon nap before we go out. When, she felt the door opened, she was so excited and said, "Hi, Teddy" and that was to signal that I have braiding task to complete. She is so intuitive and sensitive that she took her small folding chair, set it up in front of the couch so our braiding session would be more comfortable and of course as a customer she can relax, as well with an iPad on her hand. So, receptive to my needs and it made me feel special to be honest. She could have set it up somewhere where I would be uncomfortable, overreaching for the comb and hair buckle. She positioned us where it is best for the two of us. No sabotage or anything.

Little Missy on our three days together. Thanks Skye, Baby Joyce and Gian!

Kids can show patience. Note that not all kids are patient. Some can be ornery and this one can be relentless but I admired her fun way of waiting to be fed instead of having tantrums. She will say her request, "Appie, rice" (I am spelling it how she says it, ok.) meaning she wanted to eat. Yes, she is an Asian child. We love our rice. She was roaming around the table, tapping her hand on the side and kept repeating the phrase and she will do it in a jovial manner by creating a tune only her could sing.

So many things we could learn from children. I have only cited a very few examples. I wish all of us can be like a three year old sometimes. Be patient and be fun while waiting for things to happen. Be inclusive and be sensitive to other's needs. I, myself, should learn to be one. I miss you, Skye!