In the beginning, there were the simple joys: the magic of a smile and the infectious sound of laughter. He mastered the art of snoozing, learned to sit up, and how to wield a spoon like a pro. He discovered his own toes, delighted in the taste of his fist, and found solace in a snug blanket. Then came the milestones: crawling, walking, running, jumping—reaching for the sky like a tree and crouching low like a sneaky lion. He made music with pots and pans, built towering block cities, and experienced the thrill of rolling and tossing balls.
How naive I was to think that was the end of it! Learning doesn’t just pause at one or two; it’s a lifelong adventure that unfolds daily.
He’s explored the world of buttons and Velcro, learned the importance of dental hygiene, and how to properly flush a toilet. He can pull on his own socks, brush his hair, and gently close a door without pinching fingers.
He’s also delved into the emotional realm: understanding kisses and tears, yawns and burps, the sensation of bruises and cuts, and how to mend a heart after a cherished toy breaks or a favorite book gets torn. He’s already figured out how to heal.
He’s written his name, drawn whimsical houses with curling smoke from chimneys, and mastered games like dominoes, Monopoly, and snap. He’s learned to spell words like “mum,” “fun,” “sun,” and “van,” ensuring he leaves a finger space between them—because even in the world of letters, spacing matters!
He’s discovered that fishing demands patience, car washing is a never-ending chore, and homemade cookies are the best kind. He’s learned that sunscreen is a must, face paints are always a blast, and that dogs are gentle, birds are beautiful, and squirrels are more interested in acorns than his toys.
He’s recognized that few things in life bring as much joy as stickers, that every bath is spacious enough for two, and that any worthwhile party has sausage rolls and jelly. He’s even picked herbs from the garden, learned the cutlery rules (fork on the left, knife on the right), and figured out that sometimes, worrying isn’t necessary.
He’s discovered that Googling pictures of poop is a recipe for disaster and that good manners paired with a big smile go a long way. He’s learned that saying “no” is perfectly okay, and that distance doesn’t diminish love. Dinosaurs have become fascinating rather than frightening, and plucking lemons from his own tree never grows old.
He’s embraced the joy of dancing and has explored nature’s wonders—from ladybirds and dragonflies to spider webs and snowflakes. He’s learned that on tough days, fresh air is essential, that no sea is too cold for paddling, and no rainy day is complete without ice cream. He understands that a closed door signals privacy and that having a notebook by the bedside is a necessity at any age.
He can locate Tasmania on a world map, knows haircuts go faster if you stay still, and believes tomato soup is the ultimate remedy for a cold. He’s realized that sometimes the best gifts come from the beach, that postcards aren’t just for vacations, and that you can never have too many books.
He’s grasped that peas grow in pods and babies in bellies, learned about fireflies and thunderstorms, and absorbed the stories of Santa, heaven, rainbows, and hiccups. He knows it’s okay to feel sad or mad, but that a friend can usually help chase those feelings away.
He’s learned that every great day begins and ends with a hug in bed. He’s discovered the joy of making people laugh, that fizzy drinks are overrated, and that writing poems can be quite the challenge. To his disappointment, he’s also learned that most people don’t marry their kindergarten teacher.
He’s become aware that wood floats while stones sink, that telling a good joke is trickier than it appears, and coloring inside the lines is merely one approach to creativity. Some challenges—like wobbly teeth, sleepless nights, and long car rides—are meant to be faced alone.
At just six years old, he’s accomplished a remarkable amount of learning. While he’s still mastering zippers and scissors, refining his swimming and skipping skills, and figuring out the intricacies of shoelaces and kiwifruit, he’s also navigating the complexities of sharing attention and love. He’s tackling riding a bike without training wheels and pondering the ethics of standing on ants.
Sometimes, when fatigue sets in, he might miss his mouth with a spoonful of yogurt or misread his home reading book, flinging it across the table in frustration. In those moments, he might stomp up the stairs and mutter some less-than-pleasant words under his breath.
He is a work in progress, with so much more to learn. But so am I. So are you. We’re all on this journey together.
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Summary:
In just six years, a child embarks on a remarkable journey of learning, from basic skills like walking and speaking to understanding emotions and the world around him. Each new discovery, whether it’s the joy of laughter or the complexities of friendships, shapes his growth. Parenting is a shared journey of learning, not just for the child but for the parent too, as both continue to evolve together.