Olivia

Humility
Amazement
A joy with a purity such that I have never felt before
When I pulled into the drive after work and saw my sister’s car, my entire mood changed
As soon as I opened the front-door, my two-year-old niece yelled out my name and ran to me
I am truly humbled by being associated with such happiness
She gives me a hug and I lift her up to the ceiling
She repeats as I’ve so often called her
– Baby!
And laughs
My sister approaches with Olivia’s tiny brother in her arms

I’ve not been there to change every nappy
Or comfort through every fearful night
But I’ve invested so much time in this child purely for the joy of it
I’ve been woken nights by her crying
And when she stayed over while her parents were away, I’ve kept her company through the night until she’s fallen asleep
I’ve played with her
Talked with her
Read with and to her
Spent hour after hour repeating the same action from which she derives delight
Never before have I experienced such direct reward for time and effort spent
Yet never before has it felt so natural, unforced, and carried-out regardless of any possible reward or expectation of it
Our time together is driven only by affection
The affections I have for my sister and brother-in-law
And the affections I, like everyone, have for Olivia

She is spoilt in affection, as were we growing up with our parents
She is encouraged to and already naturally delights in problem-solving
The development of her language use excels
Recognition and application of action or language continues to surprise and delight us for one so young
She continues to learn that she will not get everything she wants, and to immediately stop an action that endangers her if so instructed by those whose care she is in
And when she plays, she plays with all of her energy and creativity

At times, this alone makes me happy
Happy enough to want to see as much of her life, as well as her brother’s, as I can
I cannot wait until abstracts are introduced into her life
When she starts to ask the good questions
I have no expectations as to where she will take herself
I only hope that I will be fortunate enough to see it happen