when A came to play

My niece is a four-year old whirl of words and wonder. She invited herself over to play, arrived with daisies in hand for me and, within five minutes, announced her desire to draw. Then we went to buy eggs and chocolate chips, so that we could bake. More drawing, this time chalking with J on the patio. Then we carefully counted how many cookies she would need for her family (seven, as the baby won't need one). Time to load her booster seat and scooter into the car and home!

Day 139/2

We went for a walk and bumped into K and co... We said hi to A, but she was very focussed on her new bike-riding skills - up and down, up and down, up and down.

Day 86/2

Let the cousins meet! Z and A came to meet J this afternoon ... So much scrumptiousness!

Day 42/2

This little pickle moves so quickly that 99% of the photos I take of her are one big blur. I was grateful, therefore, when she took a little rest (despite being a 'big girl') in our newborn car seat!

some moments from May

I was given some gorgeous flowers which I photographed on the deck while looking after A....

 ... who wanted me to photograph her Crocs!

 Flowers from a lovely Sunday afternoon at Tyntesfield...

 We had a day trip on a narrow boat, here's Warren and the (nearly!) 9 year old F at the tiller...

 ... ropes on the roof ...

 ... and Z!

 And a day at the seaside, celebrating Z's birthday...

Day 308

Today I had some time with little A (and the other munchkins); she did some drawing "Rara there, Rara head, Rara hat, me there" and then some cutting too!

Day 275

I spent the afternoon with my sweet A; she greeted me with this card.

Day 253

A sat on my lap requesting book after book and then reached for Hester "This one, Rara, this one."

Day 209

I made these for F, Z and A when A was born. They caught my eye again tonight. (I made one for B too, but it seems to have galloped off on an adventure somewhere.)

Day 203

I got back from work to a little note from my lovely A.

Day 150

Holding A's hand as she spins on my Twist'n'Tone.

Day 127

Happy birthday, my dear A ... Happy spinning!

Day 122

I've just made my niece a long-overdue star to go in her Song Sack.

Day 8

Earlier this week I was flicking through a book about playfulness, checking out the chapters. The first chapter's sub-headings were as follows: Why children play | Fostering Closeness instead of Isolation | Fostering Confidence instead of Powerlessness | Fostering Emotional Recovery instead of Emotional Distress.

The sentiments - placing value on children and honouring the contribution they have to bring  - utterly resonate with me. I consider it my responsibility and my privilege to provide protected space for children both to explore and enjoy, with other children and adults whose pleasure it is to nurture and invest in them. 

It's not 'just play'; it's life-giving and it's essential.