I was out late for dinner and drinks with some friends, and when I came home past midnight, Ms Dos was still up waiting for me. She has a habit of needing me to be with her before she falls asleep.

I knew the kids had just been to a movie screening with our helper, so I asked her about it. She described to me in detail the plot of the movie, and the snacks and drinks that were provided at the event.

After listening patiently to her tell her story, I needed to go out to the living room to grab a bite to line my stomach after too much drinking. Ms Dos followed me out, and with a big grin on her face, asked me, “Aren’t you going to ask me about my day?”

There was nothing significant she did today other than watch a movie, so it must have been something that happened in her school. I recalled that she was getting back her Weighted Assessment results this week.

“Is it your weighted assessments? Do you want to show them to me?”

With a big grin, she ran to her bag to get the papers for me. This confused me even further, because children are usually excited to show their parents their test results if they did well. I have some self awareness regarding my children, and Ms Dos’ test results were generally nothing to shout about.

Ms Dos placed the results of her English and Chinese weighted assessments in front of me. Indeed….. the results were as expected – probably above average but nothing spectacular.

“Mummy, read the model compos!”

I was even more confused. I read through her composition, followed by the two model compositions attached. The model compositions were indeed well written and deserved the recognition, and neither were written by Ms Dos.

“Well done, Dos!” I said. “I enjoyed reading your story and the model compositions too! They were very well written!”

“Read the second compo!” she continued excitedly.

“I read it, it was very good.”

“Did you see who wrote it?”

“P3 G…. Ah, did your classmate write this?”

“Yes! My classmate’s model composition got printed and given out to the whole school. Isn’t that great?” She beamed with pride.

“It is great, darling. I love that you are so proud and happy of your friend’s achievements!”

It never fails to warm my heart the positivity and the pure genuine joy that Ms Dos derives from the happiness of people around her. Despite never having won a medal or any award, she continues to be happy for the achievements of her siblings, friends, or just people she knows.

I hope she continues to maintain this level of happiness and contentment even as she grows up 🙂