Once again, Ava continues to brings laughter and joy to my life with her fresh new ideas. She took toilet paper and arranged them into a square on the floor. She had her sewing basket out. She asked me to thread her needle. When I asked what she was making she told me a blanket. “It’s going to be the softest blanket ever!”
Children come up with the most creative ideas. Sometimes they work. Sometimes not. It’s the excitement on their face that comes with the idea that makes me very happy.
I think too often we lose the importance of time. I’m not talking about time on the clock, running late, or set times for routines. I’m talking about time spent with loved ones, face to face.
Today, our daughter was home sick. I was busy in the kitchen making a healing broth and dehydrating foods. She was busy with her dolls in pretend land. I then realized that our day was getting away from us and, while we were in the same house, we hadn’t spent any time together. That is not how I wanted the day to end.
Before dinner, we played a new board game, Race to the Roof. It took us about 30 minutes to set it up and about an hour to finish the game. It was the first game for her to roll the die. Very exciting to her, so it was to me as well. We laughed a lot. Especially when she rolled a six and said “I don’t want that number, I’ll roll again”. I told her it was cheating. She said “I guess I’m cheating”. 🙂
A simple board game, mother & daughter. Looking each other in the eyes. This was the best part of my day.
We received more bad news today. A close family member is in the hospital and we are left to wonder how much time we will have to love him in this life. Our hearts are broken and my sister is torn apart as she is closest to him. They are in Ohio, and we are on the west coast. This makes me feel worse.
Where can I find the beauty in this day? It is only because I have a beautiful daughter with a wonderful man that it is possible. He arrived after work with flowers. One small vase for our daughter, and one for me. The card reads: You have my love and support. I love you madly.
Some days, due to something unforseen, it’s hard to see the beauty. The mind, being consumed by bad news, doesn’t see or hear anything else. I struggle with what the loss of a job means. How will I tell my husband? How will I help our family financially? What should I do now?
I believe something beautiful and wonderful will be created because of the loss. So, while I may not know which way to go, which path to follow, there will be a better ending. I will become a better person. I will find my journey to be an adventure dotted with amazing and beautiful discoveries. I can feel it.
It’s a wonderful thing to observe a child using their creativity.. Today, it was in the kitchen.
Ava thought to put half a chopped banana, coconut milk, fruit juice, honey, and a pinch of salt into a cereal bowl. She covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator to sit for the night.
In the morning, she poured the “marinade” into the blender and whipped up her very own smoothie. She was very satisfied with her creation.
Allowing her to experiment has prompted her to come up with more ideas for smoothies. I can’t wait to see what’s in our glasses next 🙂
It’s so easy to say no to a child. No, I don’t want to play catwoman and robin. No, I don’t want to be your horse. I can’t, I have to send an email. Children are youthful, imaginative, energetic, and innocent. Hopeful.
Our little girl, while she does hear “no” often enough, hears a lot of yes. Her father will get down on the ground and give her horse rides, though his knees beg him not to on hardwood floors. He pretends to be a bird, whistling and chirping while she sits atop his shoulders flapping her “wings”. He takes her to the park to play kickball. They have lunch dates and ice cream outings. They do puzzles and play Candyland together. They wrestle and roll. When he pulls out the guitar, he will often end up playing songs he doesn’t really want to, just so she can sing and dance. Those two sweeties have even written songs together. He has had his eyebrows, mustache and beard combed. He even had make-up applied tonight.
When I see a father being a super hero, I’m happy for the child. It warms me up on the inside. It gives me hope, and a taste of innocence.
The earth goes around the sun, the earth goes around the sun, it takes 12 months to go around, the earth goes around the sun.
Those are the lyrics to the song that is sung when a child celebrates their birthday at a Montessori school. I didn’t know much about how Ava’s birthday would be celebrated at school, but now that I’ve been witness to how it’s done, it is beautiful in its simplicity, thought, and action.
Ava held a globe in her arms as the guide told her story, with photos that we had provided, with a little tid bit about each year to match the photo. Her friends laughed along with her, Ava adding a little bit about her life here and there, with smiles and excitement in the air. Once the first year of her life story was told, Ava was to choose a friend to be her “moon” to walk around the sun with. It continued in this way until she turned 5.
As parents, we smiled, laughed, remembered the years, her accomplishments, and were happy to be there as she celebrated her birthday with her school friends. It was simple and sweet. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen.
Do you remember the most beautiful celebration you were present for?
Ava and I walked to the streetcar stop and had a 9 minute wait time. She began talking with a sharp woman who was all gray, except for some bright blue streaks in her hair. This woman was looking at a guide for the Art Museum, prepping for her visit. Ava began chatting with her, the kind of chat that only a 5-year-old would have. The kind of talk that many adults would dismiss, or be annoyed by. Not this particular woman though. She put her museum guide in her bag. Fully engaged in conversation with Ava, she asked questions, listened to her answers, and answered many questions from Ava.
After a full day, and some time to reflect on what I might post, this scenario kept popping into my mind. What a beautiful woman…what a beautiful thing to watch and listen to…my daughter and this woman in conversation, and me as an observer with a mother’s smile.
There is everything right in having cupcakes for breakfast on a birthday. The glow of the candles, the smile on a child’s face, the singing of old song, watching a wish being made, and the attempt to blow out all the candles with one big exhale. All 5 of them. A beautiful way to start a day of celebration.
Ava’s birthday is tomorrow so cupcakes were on the list of things to do today. Rather than smear frosting on them with a butter knife I decided to try piping it on. For my first time I thought I did okay. Ava got in on the action as well, piping the best she could with her sweet little hands and adding some sparkle and shine.
A birthday, no matter how young or old, is always a beautiful thing to celebrate.
BeautyQD 