A Spontaneous Moon-Viewing With My Family

Yesterday was the Chinese Moon Festival, a time-honored tradition where families come together to eat mooncakes and gaze at the beautiful moon. Wanting to share this special atmosphere with my son, I decided to invite the family out for moon-viewing, even though my husband initially seemed reluctant.

When we first started dating, I believed he was an outdoor enthusiast because of his tan and his constant suggestions to explore the outdoors. We rarely spent time indoors; instead, he would take me to try all kinds of activities.

However, over time, something shifted in him, and I’m not quite sure what caused this change. These days, he tends to be more reserved when it comes to spontaneous outings. Nevertheless, when it comes to our planned family trips, he takes the lead, organizing everything and always ensuring there’s something fresh for us to experience. I am grateful for this, as his meticulous planning has brought us many memorable moments.

Yet, if we don’t have a concrete plan, he is often reluctant to do anything spontaneously, which is very different from me. I enjoy adding unexpected adventures to our days, believing it can bring extra joy and enrich our experiences. Luckily, my son often shares my enthusiasm for spontaneity. This time was no different; he quickly agreed to my idea of having a simple moon-viewing picnic. Together, we managed to convince my husband to join us.

We headed to a nearby park, and to our surprise, we found that many others had come out for the same purpose. This was my first time realizing that moon-viewing is a shared tradition between China and Japan. Seeing other families celebrate under the same moon made me feel a deep connection with the cultural practices that transcend borders.

My husband, influenced heavily by Western culture, is not particularly knowledgeable about traditional Japanese customs. Moreover, he isn’t one to mark every special occasion, which is quite the opposite of me, as I love to observe and cherish these moments. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how his demeanor changed during this outing. Despite his initial hesitation, he soon became the most enthusiastic of all. He actively scouted for the best spot to enjoy the moon-viewing, and he even volunteered to buy drinks and snacks to complete our impromptu picnic. Seeing this side of him again, the one I remembered from our early days, brought back fond memories.

As for my son, he was completely mesmerized by the perfectly round, glowing moon. He shared with me his knowledge, explaining that the moon shines because it reflects the light of the sun. I was astonished by his understanding of this concept, especially at his young age. Curiosity led me to ask him how he learned this, to which he replied, “I read it in a book before.” Hearing this made me incredibly proud. It demonstrated his ability to absorb information and retrieve it when experiencing something firsthand. Moments like these reaffirm the power of connecting what we learn from books to the real world around us.

This spontaneous moon-viewing was not just a simple picnic; it was a celebration of family, culture, and learning.

For my son, it was a night of wonder and exploration. For my husband, it was an unexpected reminder of the joy of spontaneity and traditions. For me, it was a beautiful blend of the past and the present—a moment where our different perspectives merged under the light of the moon.

Last night’s event will be a lasting memory for each of us, serving as a reminder of the importance of embracing both the planned and the spontaneous. It showed us that even the simplest activities, like moon-viewing, can become cherished family traditions that enrich our lives. I hope we can continue to find joy in these moments, creating more memories together, and perhaps, over time, find a perfect balance between planning and spontaneity in our family life.