The year began for me on a good personal note. And the first fifteen days have been great!

With wifey away at her hometown, I spent quite a lot of time with my daughter alone. Well, she had school and the usual routines. But still, we spent more time together than we would have done normally.

It was amazing to notice how she is developing at closer quarters. Having multiple conversations gave me a better sense of her thinking and connecting with it.

It was also weird! Because daughters think very differently than sons. Having been one, I could identify some of those differences and those made me think.

For example, they have deeper observational skills. One day, looking at how I was more relaxed after the break, she commented how I was happier than usual.

They also have a keen sense of understanding how doing something right will get them what they wish for. On one of the days, knowing I was going to agree to her request if she returned home on time after playing, she came back promptly on her own and got something in return!

But the best one is how they take care of you and your feelings. On another day, she ensured that she took care of me when I wasn’t feeling too well. That felt special, knowing she was doing the most she could.

I am sure I didn’t have so much maturity when I was ten. I was lost in my own world, trying to make the most of my play time with friends.

In fact, I see this happen even as we grow older. With my wife, cousins, friends.

Daughters are closer to their family and loved ones. They tend to be more concerned and keep in touch more often, irrespective of how busy they are. We sons, give more attention to worldly matters and don’t do as much.

Or how, daughters think about every little detail, irrespective of their age. And for everyone. Whereas sons are mostly concerned about things that are visible and sometimes overlook the subtleties.

Whatever may be the reasons, I think it balances things beautifully. Different perspectives and thought processes allow for different strengths and thus different contributions.

Back to my story, as we came to the end of the ten day period we were without the boss at home, the one single takeaway was that this was fun!

And was a welcome surprise for both of us that we would love to repeat…