I came home tonight with a package in hand. The package was a gift from my mom for my son. My young son coincidentally welcomed me home tonight with a big smile and a "Hello, dad!" It’s such a joy to have your child greet you at the door. He immediately wondered what was in the package. "Is it a present for bao?" he asked. ("Bao" is my son’s nickname.) "Daddy got me a present!" I responded, "No, bao, daddy didn’t get this for you. It’s a gift for you from someone else. Who do you think it’s from?" He immediately answered, "Grandma!" I was very surprised. He was exactly right! It was a gift from "grandma," his American grandmother. It could have been from "nai nai," his Chinese grandmother, his mom, from some friends, or any number of other people. No, he somehow knew it was from grandma. The package contained a blue and green wind chime that we’ll hang outside our son’s bedroom window.
Like many parents, I am often amazed by the things my child says and does. He is so bright, and sometimes his intuition and ability to memorize and retain information astonishes me. Before I had a child of my own, I really didn’t know just how intelligent children can be. I thought that newborn children only reacted to basic needs such as eating and sleep and did not really have the capacity to think and reason, but I was completey wrong. Our child was very alert and responsive to us even hours after being born. He continues to amaze me every day.
Blog Note: Special thanks to everyone who shared their experiences in places where we may soon live. I appreciate your feedback! Miss H, who offered a great description of Hong Kong, asked what I do for a living. I tend to write in general about what I do for a living and about my family. I try to paint a broader picture of life overseas, telling stories and anecdotes without focusing too much on what I do or who we are. If you are interested in learning more about my career field and how to serve overseas, visit this Careers web site, which describes my occupation in detail and outlines how to pursue a career in my field. Visit the site soon, because the initial application deadline for this year is on March 1, 2006, when you register for an exam on April 8, 2006. You can only apply once a year, so act soon if you want to get started this year.
