2025/05/27 Embracing my 6-year-old daughter completely — putting my heart into it without overdoing it —

2025/05/27

The lingering scent of chocolate cake still drifts through the kitchen,
and the afterglow of last night's "early celebration" suddenly comes back to me.

But today is the real "day."
The morning my second daughter turned six.

When I said, "It's your birthday today, happy birthday!" she smiled brightly and replied, "Hehe, thank you."

She looked a little proud and a little shy.
Seeing that face, I was suddenly flooded with memories of that day six years ago.

We had a hurried celebration yesterday due to a change in plans, but today is her real birthday.
I wanted to slowly savor this special day.

Thinking back to the day my second daughter came into this world and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

To the me who forgot to put snacks in the labor bag

It feels a bit embarrassing to write a birth report now, so long after the fact.
But precisely because six years have passed, I want to put those memories into words.

— May 26, 2019 (39 weeks, 6 days)
6:00 AM. I started feeling menstrual-like cramps every 15–20 minutes, and while I thought, "Oh, this might be real labor," I went to the park to play ball with my eldest daughter.

By late morning, they were coming every 10 minutes, and the sharp, tightening pain in my lower abdomen continued.
Still, thinking "there's a long way to go," I took a nap.
I slept for an hour and saved my energy.

By evening, they were coming every 7 minutes, so I contacted the maternity clinic, dropped my eldest daughter off at my in-laws', and headed to the hospital.

— 21:00 Arrived at the hospital. Cervix was 3.5cm dilated.
I remember being a bit shocked, thinking, "I thought I'd be further along..."

The pain felt like my tailbone was being crushed, and the waves of labor deepened little by little, hour after hour.

Around the time the date changed, I had the feeling that "it's coming out!"
I resisted the urge to push and called the nurse.
I had to "walk" to the delivery table, and I managed to get on it, feeling weak and shaky.

— 1:24 Successfully gave birth.
Unlike with my eldest, I could clearly feel the "head," "shoulders," and "feet" coming out in order.

I was able to feel the "moment the baby is born" with my heart and body, something I couldn't experience with my first.

A healthy baby girl weighing 3150g who looked just like her older sister.
But she didn't cry for a while...
Just as I was getting anxious, I finally heard a faint "meep" sound.

I remember how long the time felt until breakfast after birth, while I deeply regretted not putting snacks in my labor bag, and how I knew exactly when my water broke.

Everything is nostalgic now.

Today's smile: "Happy 6th Birthday"

— And now, May 27, 2025. The present.

My second daughter has turned six.
She loves and admires her big sister, but is also her rival. She's a hard worker who gives her all at piano and cheer dance to try and catch up.

Unlike her sister who loves vegetables, she loves fried chicken, hamburgers, and chocolate. She's a challenger who secretly tries to eat lots of vegetables, thinking it's cool, even though she doesn't like them.

She dotes on small animals and stuffed toys, and looks forward to Pretty Cure, Zorori, Doraemon, and Conan.

Recently, she's also become interested in long-tailed tits and Bourke's parrots, and whenever she looks at her picture books, she whispers, "Cute."

She has become able to express her "likes" in words little by little.

Including the moment she laughs and says, "My favorite colors are white, black, and brown!" and then shyly adds, "Oh, wait, mint green was my number one!"
Everything about her is who she is right now.I couldn't have imagined this at the time of her birth.

I am just happily watching as the outline of this "individual person" becomes clearer day by day.

Putting my heart into it without overdoing it

Dinner was exactly as my daughter requested.
A special kids' plate with fried chicken, hamburger, ketchup rice, and animal-shaped potatoes.

From an adult's perspective, it's just a combination of "things kids love," but this isthe ultimate feast for my 6-year-old daughter.

Seeing her face as she ate, laughing and saying, "I love all of these so much, I can't choose!" made me deeply feel the accumulation of these six years.
And the chocolate cake left over from last night—


a warm table packed with everything she "loves."I don't overdo the effort. But I put my heart into it.That's our family's way of celebrating.

Apparently, she happily told everyone at daycare, "I ate the chocolate cinnamon cake my mom made!"
To think she was talking so proudly about the cake I rushed to make yesterday! My heart was full knowing that even though it was clearly homemade and not as beautiful as a store-bought cake, it was a special cake for her.

It wasn't an elaborate meal, but the time I spent preparing it while imagining the look on my daughter's face—that might be what



the most important "putting your heart into it"

means. Even if it's not a perfect homemade meal or a lavish celebration, if the whole family can share the feeling of"congratulations,"

that is the greatest gift.

Today's "likes" are treasures only for today

The fact that my second daughter can now clearly put her "likes" into words.

At six years old, the things my daughter treasures, likes, and finds fun—they might change in a few years.

But by recording my daughter's "likes" at this moment, when we look back someday, won't we be able to laugh together and say,"Oh yes, you loved things like that back then"?Yesterday's early party,

the birthday party at daycare,
the last bite of cake—
all of these were important elements that colored this day.


A child's birthday is a special day for parents, too.The day I met this child.

A day of gratitude for the days I've walked together with this child.
Instead of aiming for perfection,

pouring in all the love I can right now.Isn't that what makes a child the happiest?

When was the last time you asked a loved one what they "like right now"?If you take a moment to stop and learn about the "now" of those close to you, you might make some new discoveries.

＼ Feel free to check these out too ／
▶︎ An ordinary working mom who enjoys the "morning" by waking up at 4 AM

▶︎ A sudden birthday party
　What made it in time was our family's feelings

▶︎ A Tuesday saved by dinner and the Soran Bushi dance

▶︎ For those who can't wake up early! A 4 AM mom teaches
6 steps to a "morning routine to center yourself"

Thank you so much for reading until the end.

The age of "six" is a special milestone for parents, too.

From my pushing effort of "Hnnngh!" that day.
To my second daughter's "Yum!" today.

So many moments are connected,
and she is growing, truly, truly growing.

Let's find little bits of happiness together again tomorrow. See you later!