It was bedtime as usual.

But the message my son brought me isnt usual,

I forgot what we were talking about, but I was exposing him to the idea that for some schools of thought, the soul moves on when its time for the body to retire

And Huaihao was asking me, how does the soul move on? “Because like great grandmother, she’s burnt into ashes already so how does she become another person ?”

I m not too sure myself but I brought up the word reincarnation. It must be the first time Huaihao heard this word.

Then he said, “Mummy, can you live a happy and healthy life ? Otherwise I would be so sad when you pass away. If you live happily and healthily, I will be only worried when you are 90 or 80. And how old are you already?”

I cannot imagine how much I mean to Huaihao, much as I may not know how much I mean to my mother, my father, and equally, I may not know how much they mean to me.

But Huaihao’s words put things into perspective for me.

Amidst of all unhappiness, challenges, miscommunication, lack of communication and satisfaction, Huaihao’s words helped put things into perspective.

To rise above it all, and to put effort into living happily and healthily. These are the most important and precious in life. And living happily and healthily, isnt this THE MOST important thing, nothing else can rise up to?

Its almost like anger meeting with his words and retreating instantly dissolving into nothingness.

I remember the day he was born, I wrote a long reflection which said that Huaihao ‘s gift was for me to do all that I did not have a chance to, I did not use the epidural, I did all the traditional confinement stuff no matter how hard, I drank gallons of red date tea. Huaihao is a constant reminder, inspiration and light to search for new pathways and not be satisfied with what has been done.

And how to live happily and healthily? But for you, I will. I will try my very best to live happily and healthily for you.

Thank you teacher! And it feels like these words came from somewhere deeper, further, wiser.

It was bedtime as usual

HuaiHao says, “ mommy, it feels like you are happy on the outside but sad inside. Is it because I hurt my head and my lips?”

How can HuaiHao be so perceptive ?