Frogs and Crickets

I had a very interesting conversation with my second daughter early this morning.

It was about 6:50am, we were walking down the staircase together after helping her get ready to go to school. It was still quite dark outside and since our staircase has a large window from top to bottom, we had a good view of the outside world as we both held hands to walk down together. The lighting was just perfect. Dark but with a little bit of light on the horizon. It was a classic Kodak moment.

"Mama," she said. "I like night time."
(for my five year old girl, if its dark outside it means its still night time)

"Yeah..." I replied nonchalantly.

At that time, my mind was already strategizing my plans/schedules for the day. It was also quite early and I haven't had my morning coffee yet. Yes, I admit, I'm a COFFEEHOLIC! if there is such a word. I can't function properly if I don't have my coffee.

"I like because I like to hear the sound outside at night...", she added.

I stopped. I looked outside into the morning dawn scenery, and I listened. Then I begin to understand her statement. It was indeed a nice sound, like my daughter said, a beautiful harmonic composition. It was the sound of frogs croaking and crickets creaking. It was the sound of nature. Something that I used to love myself when I was small but somehow got ignored as I grow older and got busier, like the sound of pitter-patter of the rain, of birds chirping in the trees.

We stood at the stairs landing for a moment. Both of us, still holding hands, looking outside, and enjoying the sound of frogs and crickets. It was such a touching moment for me then. A simple observation by a five-year old kid could open up a whole new world, or in this case, open up my ears. I have been so caught up in my life that I haven't taken a moment now and then to stand still and just listen.