Storytelling

When Big Bee was 4, she used to tell me all kinds of stories, and then Hubby and I would write down some of these stories in a little book. She used to be so tickled when she saw these stories written down. That exercise had since helped hone an avid reader now, through harnessing her passion in the beauty of the written language. We never needed to teach her to read. We just ignited her imagination and let her creativity pave the way. Sadly, many of these stories were now lost as I could not seem to find that wee little book! 

Little Bee is now approaching her big 4 in 4 months' time, and she has the luxury of being exposed to a wider range of literature during our read-aloud sessions because we try to read a more versatile variety of stories to appeal to both Big Bee and her. 

The night before, we were just fooling around before bedtime when I suddenly jested with her to tell Mummy a bedtime story instead. Drama-mama her was more than happy to do so, and without much encouragement, she quickly launched into this story, in her still struggling and limited vocabulary, no doubt! I am writing the remnants down from what I can remember - which was not much! And oh, please ignore all grammar mistakes - what does a 3.5 year old know about grammar!?

"One day, we are walking in a forest. There are many trees in the forest. The trees are very tall. It is very dark in the forest. Then suddenly, there are 4 bad people who appear. *at this part, jie jie was very excited and started prompting her, asking "Who are these bad people!? What are they doing in the forest!?", which probably explained this particular part of the story. She thought she could impress her jie jie because she took a cheeky look at her and continued with...* Then, the 4 bad people saw jie jie in the forest and catch her! Then they kill her!"

At this juncture, Big Bee was so infuriated at Little Bee's story plot that I must halt the entire storytelling immediately - to manage yet another sibling cat fight, sigh. 

I am always amazed by Little Bee's wide spectrum of affection for Big Bee - it can range from dazzling adoration to covert tale-telling about Big Bee which angered jie jie to no end. But what made me warm and fuzzy is how she would always think of her big jie jie everytime she gets a sweet from her school bus aunty or from the doctor's. She would always request for another sweet for her jie jie - "Can I have another sweet for my jie jie, please?" 

She also loves to create impromptu handmade presents for jie jie, like this little packet of gift that she gave jie jie this evening, with a little picture note inside and a pencil, much to jie jie's delight. I love how Little Bee would gaze at jie jie, with her signature sunshine grin, as jie jie opened her "present", revelling in jie jie's happiness. 

I hope both their love for each other will shine brighter every year, like a beacon of light in a dark, vast ocean. 

Handmade present from Little Bee to Big Bee. I helped to make the envelope while she wrote down both their names. She can now spell and write her own name unassisted since a few months back, and can spell "NICLE" for jie jie, always missing out the "o"!