Growing Up

This week Mia is away to KL again, so I am playing daddy and mommy. Whenever Mia's away, I will automatically switch into the extra-loving-daddy mode. But that is not very difficult for me to do because I truly love JJ immensely. Well, OK, actually I love her mommny immensely too.

JJ is fast approaching 6 years old. In fact she'll be celebrating her birthday on the 13th of July. How time flies—it's just like a year or two ago when she was just a little baby. And in a few months' time she'll be going to primary 1.

JJ still asks me to carry her a lot of the time. Many in my family tell me not to spoil her—that she's big enough to walk on her own. And of course they're absolutely correct. But I want to savour the moment with JJ. I know it is impossible to freeze time; but I wish I can at least slow it down so that I can prolong the moment with JJ as it is now...

Then recently I realised a change in JJ. It was one of those moments when I gave Mia a hug out of habit. JJ was there, and she was somewhat shy looking at us hugging each other like that. I found that a bit amusing. There was nothing to it, really; just a hug. Yet JJ started shaking her head, and went "tsk, tsk, tsk..."

And this morning I had another revelation. When I dropped her at the main entrance of her school, she tried to resist my kiss on her cheek when her teacher was watching. I had to appeal for the kiss before she eventually allowed me. Then when it was her turn to kiss my cheek, it was a super fast one.

And then off she went. We waved at each other; and I felt a lump in my throat. I watched her disappear at the corner of the doorway...

So quick is the process of growing up. I suppose before I know it, my JJ will grow up to be a teenager and then a woman. But she will always be my little girl—my darling JJ, the rascal.