Tracing the memory of 3 year old 3歳の記憶をたどって

My daughter would like to keep everything, just like I do. But I also know that I need to keep open spaces for the new to come in (not necessarily material things).  It’s important to let go sometimes.

As we revisit our drawers, we found a foam puzzle of Japanese map we bought in Japan ten years ago. She played with it over and over during bath time when she was 3 or 4, and I was always amazed how fast she could finish the puzzle only by recognizing the colors and shapes. 

So again this time, she started to play with the puzzle. She tried to recall for the thin memories from ten years ago.  She shared with me what she was thinking then and what she was looking for to solve this problem when she was three. I treasured the time as she took me back to the era when she was still a toddler. It was very touching to hear what she remembered and how she felt from her own words.

Even today, she can only read one prefecture name—「石川県 (Ishikawa prefecture), the combination of two kanji characters learned in first grade. But I would throw in a little related events or people for each 48 prefectures, hoping she would remember more.  The mother’s wish.

I hope she would continue to love Japan more as she grows up.

私に似てなんでも手元に置いておきたい娘。物質に限らず、古きを手放して空を作らないことには、新しきが入ってくる余地がないので少しずつ見直しています。

先日久しぶりに引き出しから見つけた 日本地図パズル 。10年前に日本で購入。3歳、4歳の頃はお風呂で毎日何度も完成させては崩していました。まだ字は読めない彼女が色と形だけで短時間ではめて行く様子を見るのは驚きだったのを覚えています。

そんな彼女。パズルで遊び始めた！その上、昔遊んでいた頃の色と形の記憶を辿りながら。その頃の自分の気持ちを回想しながら色々教えてくれる。「へーそこまで覚えているんだ」と感心。

今でも彼女が確実に読める漢字は「石川県」のみ。それでも何度かやっているうちにどんどん完成時間が短くなっていく。はめられてゆくパズルを見ながら、その県の特産物やお友達のいる場所などと関連付ける声がけをついついしてしまう。

このままもっと日本が好きになってくれればいいな。