Roots form early…impalpably early.

Our 2.5-year-old daughter Elizabeth has been behaving oddly today.

She knows we’re leaving the Bay Area tomorrow for a short return to Singapore. And that means — leaving the apartment that we’ve shared with good friends for the last 2 months.

(Context: We are here to launch a start-up, and have been sharing an apartment with friends who are also here to launch their start-up)

All day long, she was visibly upset, and we did not understand why. Until it dawned on my wife — that Elizabeth may be dealing with the prospect of missing our friends, and their baby whom Elizabeth has grown fond of.

She takes a while to form trusted relationships; and when they are formed, she values them.

My wife and I have — in the last 2 years — marvelled at the depth of understanding and emotions that young children (and even toddlers) have.

And tonight we marvelled at how she’s been forming deep roots with people in her life. Unexpectedly. Impalpably.