🌿 Fatema’s Voice

I wonder what my daughter thinks about throughout the day.

What goes on in that tiny little head of hers?

When we wake up and cuddle in bed…

“Oh how I love cuddling with mama.
It feels warm and happy here.”

And when she cries for milk—

“Yayyy… my favourite milk.
Mama even remembered the straw.”

“Now I can drink properly while listening to Wheels on the Bus.
Yesss… she played it.”

“Hahaha look… mama is dancing.”

Bath time.

“Runnnn before mama catches me.”
“Hide behind dadi.”

“Splash splash.”
“Play play.”

“It’s so fun making mama run around just for a bath.”

“Oh no… bath is over.”
“Now run again before she makes me wear clothes.”

Hair?

“No wayyyy.”
“Never letting you do it.”

“Oh. Done already?”
“Okay wait… let me remove it myself.”

“Hahaha open hair again.”

And meal times?

“I’m hungry. I’m hungry.”
“Ohhh food.”

“It’s exactly what I wanted.
Spoon and hands both? Perfect.”

“I’m eating by myself… yayyy.”

And then suddenly—

“No. I’m not hungry anymore.”
“But why does she keep asking me to eat?”

Let me pull mama’s clothes so she understands.

“Out outtt!!”
“Park park!!”
“Swings and slides!!”

Snack time?

“Oh cheese!!”

“No wait… I want something sweet.”

“YAYYY… halwa today.”

“I want to play.
Play play play.”

“Yes stickers.”
“Yes books.”
“Read with me mama.”

“And music toys too.
My favourite.”

“I want chocolate.
How do I tell her?”

“Cry? Ask? Point?”

“Ohhh she understood.
Chocolateeee.”

And when mama sits with her phone or work—

“Mamaaaa enough.
Put it away and play with me.”

And when the whole family sits together laughing—

she laughs too.

Even when she doesn’t fully understand the conversation.

Maybe because happiness is contagious.

Or maybe…

she just loves being part of us.

Maybe toddlers don’t remember every moment.
But they remember how safe love feels.

And then comes sleep time…

“No sleep.”
“Cry cry.”
“Tantrum tantrum.”

But then—

“Mama is here.”
“Cozy.”

“Okay… maybe I sleep now.”

“Goodnight mama.”

— arwa