My Little Explorer
Hithesh is one-year-and-eight-month-old.
I am dealing with a beautiful kind of chaos.
Every morning begins with curiosity. These days Windows are his favorite. If one is left unlocked, he’ll rush over to open it and proudly throw whatever tiny treasure he can find outside. To him, it’s an exciting experiment. To me, it’s another reason to check the garden for missing toys. I always want to keep my garden as clean as the inside of my home, but this isn’t the time for that. Hithesh has become my little teacher, teaching me patience every single day. 😂❤️
Picture books only hold his attention for a few moments before something more interesting catches his eye. But I can keep his attention with picture books. Read here. Electrical outlets, for example, seem to have a magical attraction. No matter how many times I gently redirect him, he happily crawls back, determined to investigate every plug and cable in the house. Both me and papa put the covers to most of sockets!
One of the funniest things he does always makes me laugh. He has a tiny fabric chair that weighs almost nothing. Whenever he decides to stand up, he stands while carrying the entire chair with him. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t stop laughing.
It instantly reminded me of the old story from our childhood textbook about the baby giant who accidentally pulled a huge grinding stone while his parents were away doing chena cultivation. Of course, my son’s little cloth chair is nowhere near that heavy, but watching this tiny human proudly walking around with his chair makes me think of that story every single time. Isn`t it funny
Music is another one of his greatest loves. He has a little toy music player, and the moment one song finishes, his tiny fingers immediately press another button. Then comes the dancing—little feet bouncing, hands waving, his whole face glowing with happiness. I always dance with him now he is doing same.
Climbing has become his newest hobby. Chairs, tables, sofas—nothing seems too high. And once he reaches the top, everything within arm’s reach suddenly belongs on the floor. Books, tissues, spoons, remote controls. they all come raining down in seconds. Sometimes I wonder how such a tiny person can create such a spectacular mess so quickly.
Our home has slowly transformed alongside him. We’ve added baby locks to the drawers, cupboards, and the rooms that really need protection. But we intentionally didn’t lock everything. My husband and I want him to have the freedom to explore safely, to satisfy his endless curiosity, and to discover the world at his own pace. Childhood should have room for wonder.
These days he also goes to hoikuen (daycare) read here. Every morning, when we hand him over to his teachers, he cries with all his heart. His little voice echoes through the hallway, and as a mother, it tugs at every corner of my heart. But his teachers always smile and reassure us that the moment we’re out of sight, he calms down and happily joins the other children.
He especially loves the outdoor activities. Playing with sand, splashing in water during the hot Japanese summer, and exploring nature seem to bring him endless joy. Hearing about his day reminds me that he’s growing into his own little person, making friends, learning new things, and becoming braver each day.
Parenting in a foreign country isn’t always easy. There are days when I miss having grandparents nearby, someone to hold him for just a little while so I can catch my breath. Some evenings I feel completely exhausted, wondering how tomorrow will unfold.
But I’ve come to believe something that keeps me going.
Life gives its hardest battles to those who are capable of sailing through the roughest seas. Maybe that’s why every challenge also brings unexpected strength. Yes, I’m tired. Some days are incredibly overwhelming. But I also know I’m stronger than I ever imagined before becoming a mother.
One day, these little footprints scattered across the house will disappear. The tiny chair will no longer travel around the living room. The songs will stop playing on repeat, and the toys will stay exactly where I leave them.
Until then, I’ll choose to laugh, take a hundred photos, hold him a little longer, and treasure this wonderfully messy season of life.
So this is our little adventure these days.
How is life with your little one? I’d love to hear your stories too. ❤️
