I have a daughter who will be turning 4 years next month. She is going to school and is in a kindergarten class since September of this year. She had been attending nursery/daycare since she was a year and four months old when we were in Japan. She loves singing and really good at it, words, tune and all but I have one doubt:

How do toddlers who don’t know how to read, sing the words of a song?

With no lyrics to read and no capability to read and understand written words yet, our toddler learns song (not necessarily kiddie songs as she knows the lyrics to songs I love too) by repeating words she hear adults speak. She sings songs, sometimes the same song, especially if it is newly learned one over and over in a day. For adults, it may seem dull but the child is on to something. Repetition helps kids learn.

I find it amazing how she tirelessly repeats the song/s over and over again and become better and better with the words and its pronunciations. 

Last night, when she was alone playing with her flashcards, she picked up the PC mic and started singing her lungs out. The words and the rhythm of the song are all unfamiliar to me and I listened closely, I discovered that she had been inventing the words by herself! She was looking at the computer screen and since it is off, she can see her reflection in the monitor. I quietly looked at her and amused myself of my little star.

My birthday celebration was an eventful one. I went home after work at 2:30 pm last Thursday, kissed my napping daughter, changed my clothes and headed towards the kitchen, ready to tackle 5 different recipes.

In between chopping veggies, meats and what nots and chatting with my mother (we have an open kitchen beside the living room), I didn’t realize that I had been standing for 4 hours straight! By 7 pm, everything was done except that I had to take a shower to look like a birthday celebrant than a kitchen maid.

Some friends arrived and we said our prayer at the table and had dinner. My daughter led the happy birthday song, much to everyone’s delight. Within 10-15 minutes everyone was full and happy. Four hours of preparation and less than 15 minutes of consumption, everyone must have been hungry! lol!

Then we all played games and chatted until the wee hours of the night. I had a great time and so happy to know I won’t need to wake up early for work the next day as Friday is my normal day-off.

My husband did not heed my request to stop buying flowers for me. He came home with a bouquet of 31 multi-colored roses and a very big flower vase.

I am thankful for another year of a fulfilled and blessed life.  Thankful for my parents who gave me the chance to live and to God who never failed to guide me and helped me in so many ways, if not, I couldn’t have handled it all.

I am thankful for my family, who even the forgetful males that they are, never forgot to greet me on my birthday. Special thanks also to friends who are sweet enough to reach out and send wishes to the wind. We may be miles apart but all of you remain in my heart.