How many more times can we laugh and tickle each other?

The other day, I saw an image online.

Asking for a hug lasts only until about age five.

Carrying a school backpack

Saying "I'm off"

lasts for about six years.

Taking a bath together lasts until about age eight.

"Mom, look!" "Dad, look!"

lasts until about age ten.

The time when a parent's words reach a child's heart most easily is

the six years from age six to twelve.

And finally,

"Now" will become a treasure of the future.

Those were the words written there.

I don't know if that's really true.

It must be different for every child.

However,

when I saw that image,

for some reason, my heart felt a little tight.

I have children of my own.

I have three children.

Before I knew it,

both my eldest and second sons have grown up.

What I have been feeling especially lately,

is about my daughter who has turned ten.

Recently, with my daughter,

there is a game we often play.

It is tickling each other.

I tickle her for just ten seconds.

Then I endure it for just ten seconds.

And then it is my daughter's turn.

Then it is my turn again.

That is all it is.

If it were when we were children,

it might be the kind of game found in any household.

But now that I am a parent,

I feel that time is very precious.

My daughter laughs out loud.

She runs around.

"Stop it!"

They say this while laughing.

And then,

"My turn now!"

they say, counterattacking.

I pretend to run away in an exaggerated manner.

Then they laugh out loud again.

It really is just that.

We aren't going anywhere special.

It doesn't cost any money.

I'm not teaching them anything.

We are just laughing.

But,

lately, I feel that time is very precious.

Working in caregiving,

I sometimes witness scenes near the end of life.

I have seen many lives.

And,

I have heard many regrets as well.

I wish I had traveled more.

I wish I had listened more.

I wish I had eaten more meals together.

I wish I had gone to see them more often.

I sometimes hear words like that.

However,

I rarely hear people say,

I wish I had worked more.

I also almost never hear,

I wish I had worked more overtime.

I also almost never hear,

that either.

It seems that at the end of life,

unexpectedly,

what remains might be the time spent with family.

This is also true when listening to the stories of the people I care for.

The beach I went to with my children.

Sports day.

Family trips.

The time spent with my grandchildren.

Everyone,

talks about these things with such genuine joy.

As we approach the end of our lives,

perhaps we begin to live within our memories.

That is precisely why,

I find myself thinking often lately.

This very moment right now,

will never come back again.

My daughter today,

is only here today.

My daughter tomorrow,

will be a little more grown up.

By next year,

she will have changed even more.

When she becomes a middle schooler,

she will likely spend more time with friends.

When she becomes a high schooler,

she might prioritize friends over her parents.

Someday she might have a partner.

If that happens,

the time spent tickling each other with her father,

will surely be gone.

When I think about it that way,

the time we have now suddenly feels special.

Only ten years old.

But,

already ten years old.

I think both are true.

Until I became a parent,

I thought children would always be children.

But in reality, it was different.

Children grow up surprisingly fast.

It feels like just the other day I was holding them,

but before I knew it, our eye levels were getting closer.

I thought we would be walking hand in hand,

but now they walk with their friends instead.

Because we are together every day, I don't notice it,

but when I look back year by year,

it really goes by in a flash.

That is exactly why,

I want to cherish the present moment.

It doesn't have to be anything special.

It doesn't have to be an expensive toy.

It doesn't have to be a trip.

Even just ten seconds of tickling is fine.

If we can laugh together,

maybe that is enough.

For a child,

it is surely a moment they won't remember.

But,

a parent remembers.

That my daughter laughed.

That she ran away.

"One more time!"

That she said that.

Such casual moments,

I think will become my treasure someday.

In an image I saw the other day,

these words were written.

"Now" will become the treasure of the future.

I truly think that is the case.

We are doing our best for the future.

I will work.

I will save money.

I will study.

However,

what becomes a treasure of the future,

might not be those things after all.

The fact that we laughed today.

The fact that we held hands today.

The fact that we ate a meal together today.

It might be such small events.

How many more times,

will we be able to laugh and tickle each other?

How many more times,

"Daddy, stop it!"

will you laugh and say that?

I do not know the answer to that.

That is precisely why,

today as well, just a little bit,

I think I will try to tickle you.

And,

I want to listen to my daughter's laughter

as much as I can while I still have the chance.

If you have small children,

perhaps even tonight,

please try tickling each other for just 10 seconds.

It is only 10 seconds,

but surprisingly, children will laugh out loud.

You don't need a smartphone.

It doesn't cost any money.

No preparation is needed either.

Just laugh with the child in front of you.

Even though it's just that,

you might find that you, as a parent, feel happier.

I have also been doing this lately

with my 10-year-old daughter.

Wondering how many more years she will play along with me.

If you try it,

and your child is happy,

or has a funny reaction,

please let me know in the comments.

I would be happy to hear your stories.

I am sure,

that the time parents and children have right now,

exists in every family as well.

"Now" will become a treasure of the future.

That is something,

I have been thinking about a lot lately.