the present

this is the best present
for Bapak's birthday, yesterday
and for everyone's new year

he, finally walks.

***

baru bisa jalan di usia sembilan belas bulan, itu jelas telat. apalagi mengingat kakak-kakaknya sudah bisa lari pada umur yang sama. tapi setiap anak istimewa dengan caranya. dan kata ibuku, omnya juga baru bisa jalan pada usia tujuh belas bulan. dan Dan, juga sempat sampai dilecut belut karena telat jalan juga.


to start walking at the age of nineteen months, is definitely late. especially considering his brothers were able to run at the same age. but each child is special in their own way. and my mom said, my brother  also started walking at the age of seventeen months. and Dan, he was whipped with eels because he was late in walking too.


iya begitulah. katanya, orang-orang tua jaman dulu melecut kaki anaknya dengan belut supaya cepat jalan. untung tidak ada yang menyarankan begitu kepadaku; sudah tahu pasti ditolak. jangankan mau melecut pakai belut, lha megang belut aja ogah. terima kasih.


yeah, ancient people said whipping babies' legs with eels will help them to walk. thank God no one suggested it to me; they knew I would say 'no'. how can I whip an eel on my baby's leg, I can't even touch it. thank you.


ada tetangga yang  menyarankan terapi ke kyai, yang selain memberi pijatan pada kaki, Dek Ai juga akan diberi doa-doa. ada teman baik yang suatu sore datang membawa sebotol air yang sudah didoakan, yang katanya harus diusapkan ke kaki Dek Ai' setiap hari.


a neighbour suggested to give Dek Ai' a therapy in a cleric, who will massage his legs and give prayers (or spells?) at the same time. a good friend came one evening with a bottle of prayed (or spelled?) water. he said the water should be rubbed on Dek Ai's legs every day.


semua adalah wujud support, bentuk kasih sayang, ikut prihatin dan ingin Dek Ai' cepat jalan. tapi aku memilih mengikuti saran embah-embahnya, yang alhamdulillah sekarang pikirannya jauh lebih terbuka, dan yang kebetulan sejalan dengan ideku: membawa Dek Ai' ke spesialis tumbuh kembang anak.


it was all a support, an affection, a feeling pity and a will to help Dek Ai' to be able to walk soon. but I chose to follw the advice from the grandparents, who thank God are now muchmore open mind, and that happened to be in  line with my idea: bring Dek Ai' to a child development specialist.


***
kurasa Dek Ai' sudah siap untuk tahap terapi selanjutnya: wicara


I think Dek Ai' is now ready for the next therapy: speaking


***


HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERY ONE!