She is two and a half times as tall and almost 6 times as heavy compared to the day when she pushed herself into this big world. She’s also the oldest of 3, which surely adds to my impression that she’s a big girl.
I have never lived in the same house with a 5-year old before. I have no reference point whatsoever. So when this little princess counts to 10 in 3 languages or she reasons her way out of tough situations, I can only believe she has grown to be a big girl.
Let me explain what I mean. Earlier today she came to me, looked me in the eyes and asked “Daddy, when do babies die?” “Babies normally don’t die,” I answered. “But why not?” (Yes, the famous why question…) “Babies grow bigger, they become parents and then later on grandparents,” I said. “Yes daddy, but the babies, when they are grandparents, when do they die?”
Seriously, heavy questions like this, this must mean that 5-year old princesses are big girls, right?
I even get corrected by my own daughter. Last week they went on a school trip and I happened to know from the teacher that she slept on the way back. Yet surprisingly when I asked her “You slept on the bus?” She answered me “No!” Before I had the chance to react, she continued “I did not sleep ON the bus, I slept IN the bus daddy!!” Showing me a face as ‘you should know better’ …
So what is happening? I always thought raising kids is a journey that lasted 18, 20 years or more. Yet after 5 years I seemed to have travelled much further on this raising kids journey then I could have ever believed before. The knowledge that it might, and probably will, continue at this speed for another 15 years or so is at the same time exciting and very frightening.
But then again, when she is crying tears of joy on the floor as I tickle her or when she cuddles up to me on the couch for a long hug, I can only think of how this princess in my arms is still a little girl. A little girl that still enjoys a fatherly hug or a story read to her at bedtime or who accepts a kiss as the best medicine in the world.
Sighh, she such a big girl, yet so small …
Loved it!!!