Intelligence

Of course they're intelligent. They're human. They have your genes! (If you call that intelligent)

From the point she was born till some time back, she was just a baby. Of course she had a personality. She listened to us when she wanted to, and ignored us if she pleased. She danced more on some songs. Ate well when offered certain foods. She understood what we were telling her. She learnt words and started talking. Sense mixed with Gibberish. But she was still just a baby.

There are milestones that you expect. Sprouting a tooth. First word. Walking. Eating on her own.

There are times, however when parents are left looking at each other speechless. The daughter intelligent, the parents incapable of talking any sense.

This was the scene. My daughter on my wife's lap, drinking milk from a bottle. We're about to go out and all are ready with a few last minute things to be done. Casually between conversation, my wife tells me that once baby's done drinking milk, I should make her wear her shoes, while she packs the baby bag. We return to our conversation. My daughter finishes her milk, and while we're still talking, walks to the shoe rack, picks out her shoes, (matching her dress, though that might be a coincidence) walks to me, puts the shoes in front of me and looks at me.

Just like that, she's started the next phase of her life. It's a mix of euphoria and a sadness, that things will never be the same. Never that simple. My wife and I can only look at each other.