Sponge

I had heard about children that they absorb everything but you need to be the parent of a little sponge, to really appreciate this.

She sees everything. She hangs on to every word. Listens to every sound. Touches. Tastes. Smells. Taking in everything. Unfiltered.

Today I saw (and heard) Life is wonderful for the first time.  She was with me when it came on. I saw her looking at the video with unblinking eyes.

Firstly it’s an extremely cute (there’s no other word) sight to see a two-year old baby, with cheeks that might fall off any moment under their own chubby weight, looking at something with complete attention. Looking at the screen, with her big eyes, wide open, and utterly engrossed in the video.

Secondly I had a few deep thoughts of my own. (Probably not as profound as those of Jason Mraz). I thought about how much she must be taking in right now. I thought that even though she probably doesn’t get most of the words and even though the video was not one of her colorful kiddy videos, but one where Jason Mraz was sitting on a chair and strumming his guitar, the music was obviously enough to keep her normally easy-to-distract attention. I thought that it doesn’t take an adult to appreciate good things, only good taste. I was scared by the thought that I (and my wife) must be the filter for our little sponge, before she has a filter of her own.

Finally, I just looked at her and thought, that Life really is wonderful.