Although the visit was brief, we made the most of our time together. Livvie was relaxed and at ease with us - likely because it had only been a month since we last met in Singapore. That familiarity made our interactions warm and natural, yet it also reminded us that, even in close families, there are personal boundaries to honour, and some suggestions, however well-meant, may not land as intended.
One evening over dinner at a local hotel, we casually proposed that Livvie spend the night with us so her parents could have a little private time - maybe even catch a movie together. The change in her expression was immediate. She withdrew into herself, falling silent and avoiding eye contact, as if an invisible wall had gone up.
In that quiet moment, we understood: she wasn’t ready to be apart from her parents, especially in an unfamiliar place. It was a gentle but important reminder that emotional readiness - particularly in young children - can’t be hurried. Sometimes, love means stepping back, respecting unspoken feelings, and allowing comfort and trust to grow in their own time.
A very observant child and she imitated her gung-gung at the lajin bench.
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