Tip 136: An observing eye and smile towards animals

There are many simple pleasures in this world. As I observe the different animals that roam freely in the neighbourhood with Haruka, I too catch the same enthusiasm that Haruka has towards these beautiful creatures of God. It started during my weekend walking strolls with Haruka when she was just around 4-5 months with an eye towards any moving object around her. I would give Tomomi a break to the Japanese bookshop, while its just daddy time with daughter. We walk around the neighbourhood with Haruka in my arm and we would see the different cute poodles taken out by elderly neighbours who also long to greet Haruka. A perfect encounter where Haruka could have a longer stare towards these cute playful creatures, giving her an amusing smile and probably shaped her friendly disposition to want to emulate the playful animals. Animals have little stress in an environment where they are shown love instead of ill treatment and its these content and joy that we can each emulate. Nowadays, children begin to lack these simple content and joy of life that children centuries ago enjoyed without the presence of material attractions, mass media and intense competition. Maybe there is a need to take the children out of their usual environment to gain an observing smile towards how animals smile at life.

In my strolls with Haruka, I would point out to her the flying seagulls in Canary Wharf, the swift squirrels in London parks who would not mind approaching for food, the loving pigeons up above the electric lines pecking each others' cheeks, the koi fish and mandarin ducks swimming around the ponds in Kowloon park, the colourful butterflies enjoying the flowers grown by diligent residents and the toad out for a hop after rain. I would make different animal sounds when we could see them to allow Haruka to remember these animals better even when she would not know a single word then. Haruka smiles as the poodles jumped to lick her cheek. Or when the squirrels seem to want to say hello. As she grew older and knew how to walk, her observation has taught her to approach only friendly animals and only reach out to the animals when they are interested to play. Often times, she would have a quick eye even when the dogs are at a distance away and would stray from our walking path to walk towards others with dogs to be able to pat them for a few minutes. We probably do not intend to have a pet until we settle down in a larger home with a garden when the children go to school. But until then, anybody can make that effort to go to that park nearby or simply have an eye towards those loving pigeons. The lessons we learn from these beautiful creature are much more than the childrens' DVD that the child watches daily.

Do you have a pet at home or exposes your children much to animals? Do you think they make a difference in childrens' lives?

(Photos show Haruka warming up to a dog at Blenheim Palace garden, Haruka approaching a cat at Mudchute farm, pigeons, seagulls, ducks and goose at Regent Park, a squirrel approaching Haruka thinking she has some food to give at Crossharbour, London, a swan at Oxford river and Haruka intruding into a family picnic at Bleinheim Palace garden).