Sharing is the Taste of Happiness

I went shopping with my daughter, rushing to find cheap items at cheap places.
When we finished shopping, it was only just past 12 o'clock.

Alright, let's go home and boil some soba noodles!

Just as I was thinking that,

Daughter: "Mom, lunch. We're going to the convenience store, right?"

I had indeed said that.
I told my daughter, who was choosing a bento at the supermarket, that we would buy it at the next store.
And that if they didn't have it at the next store, we'd go to a convenience store.
I didn't intend it as a promise.
It was just a comment based on the time.

However, my daughter, who suffers from mental health issues, had taken it as a promise and had been helping out while looking forward to the convenience store.

Sigh. I see. I understand, yes.

So, off to the convenience store we went.
In my head, I was regretting that I should have just bought it at the supermarket back then.
But, it can't be helped.
She really did try her best, and she didn't waste any money.

Pulling myself together, we entered the convenience store and each chose some noodles.

Until now, my daughter couldn't open the lids of noodle containers or add toppings and mix them.
Even though she's an adult, I wondered why she couldn't do it, but if she couldn't, it couldn't be helped. The person next to her would prepare her portion for her.

Back in the car with my daughter, she was actually peeling off the plastic wrap herself and mixing it all up.

Me: "You've become able to do it, haven't you?"

Daughter: "Yeah, I can do it now!"

My daughter, who could only rely on others, is taking a small step forward.
I suppose that means her mental health is also improving.

How wonderful, how wonderful.

Thinking that, I went to prepare my own portion, peeled off the plastic wrap, and reached out to place the tray of toppings behind the steering wheel.
At that moment, my hand hit the steering wheel, the tray flipped over, and a storm of toppings covered the steering wheel, the dashboard instruments, and even my knees.

I was stunned for a moment.

What on earth just happened?
Thinking, 'Oh boy,' I started picking up the fallen items.
Then, my daughter's hand reached out, and we picked them up together.

Furthermore, my daughter's hand took the tray containing my noodles and started mixing it.

Huh?

Daughter: "Mom, do you want to eat this one?"

This one is the one my daughter bought.
Even though she's an adult, she's still my daughter.
I couldn't possibly take away something my own child bought because she wanted to eat it.

Me: "It's okay, I'm fine with this one."

Daughter: "But the toppings are all gone now.
Poor Mom."

A mother being 'poor' isn't something that just started today.
Ever since I became a mother, my 'poor' life began.

Me: "Mom has always been 'poor,' so it's okay lol"

Then my daughter put half of her toppings onto my plate.
Even though I told her she'd run out if she did that, her hands didn't stop.

We slurped our noodles with fewer toppings each, and when she finished eating, my daughter said:

Daughter: "That was fun. It was way happier and more fun than usual.
Sharing is such a happy thing, isn't it?"

At that moment, my father's words came back to me.
When I was little, being one of three sisters, we rarely got snacks bought for us.
We were all in the same situation, and we never wanted to give away the snacks we finally got our hands on.
At times like that, my father would say:

"Does it taste good eating it all by yourself?"

That's what he said.
It was a snack that was finally mine; whether I shared it or ate it alone, the taste didn't change.
My sisters felt the same way.

But to think that at this age, I would be taught the meaning of my father's words, "Does it taste good eating it all by yourself?" by my own daughter.

She's growing up to be such a good kid.
It's hard to believe she's my daughter.

Dad, your granddaughter is growing up to be a truly wonderful young woman.
I really want to tell you that.

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