Five and his little brother were with us for a few days recently.
Five is a rambunctious imaginative lad who absolutely believes in magic. He navigates a world filled with mystery, unknowns and superheros. He has warned his father that the Elf on the Shelf is hiding in the office closet and Daddy must do his ‘very best’ while working in that room. He has been overhead speculating if Grandma’s garden gnome is ‘one of the real ones.’
On Thursday he sat beside me. We were having a snack in a lovely bright warm cafeteria. We had just had a long bus ride.
“Grandma, you are a princess.”
This comment totally threw me. If you know me, princess I am not. Barefaced and practically dressed, I don’t have a sweet nor a ‘spoiled-girl ‘ countenance. So why a princess?
“That’s a lovely compliment. Thank you.” “A princess” I said …”is very special, I don’t know if I am that.”
“Yes, Grandma you are a princess” he said with certainty.
Who am I to disagree with such a sweet comment?
A five year old’s world is filled with Princess.
It’s what his peers play at. It’s what girls do. It’s what kids do. It’s the message spread that decorates toys and playspaces. It’s the media that filter’s down to the sidewalk and playgrounds. The Queen, Prince Harry, Princess Diana. It’s the zeitgeist.
Five and his brother have left now. I wander the place picking up stray toys.
Over four days, advanced parties have scouted the ideal crannies and corners.There has been imaginative set-ups of toys behind the furniture, on the tops of tables, on shelves and on book cases. Toys and boys have been welcomed into every corner, with a few exceptions.
Discarded on my desk, a left over from New Year’s celebrations, I find a golden paper crown.
I am moved by the Magical, the Possible and by the Unknown world of Five.
(January 2020)
November’s been quite the month!
Mr. Me welcomed his first day of retirement November 1st. Things are going very well. Thanks for asking!
We headed off to Toronto to see the small boys and celebrate grandpa’s birthday. It was a great visit with the excitement of being guided to the after-school program by a 2 ½ year old – Yes! He does know the way. Elder brother provided directions to the bus stop for the ride home. My small grands are dynamos! I love them so much.
One of the Small Boys
We travelled by VIA RAIL both ways. It makes me very happy when we can avoid the highways. Particularly so when the first snowfall arrived early.
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Explore the Evidence, a Birthly event
Rested and recovered, I headed back to Toronto and on to Caledon ON to an Evidence Based Birth event “Explore the Evidence” sponsored by Birthly. It was my pleasure to hear Dr. Rebecca Dekker speak about her work, to talk about informed consent and about changes in birth and prenatal practices.
Serendipity would have it that Mira of Toronto’s Doulas on Bikes sat down at our table. Mira and I had touched base on-line previously so it was lovely to get to experience her energy!
Having given Toronto two go-rounds I rolled back home and finalized the details for my next Baby Massage class in conjunction with Here and Now studio– January 17 to February 14th. I’ve got something else simmering but for now that’s all I can share.
This morning I joined my friend Irina Fortey for tea. Irina is a skilled photo artist who works in film. Her work is geared towards telling the story of the motherhood journey. In her Mat Leave Sessions, she captures those fragile and magical moments in the hectic and sleepless fog of the early days https://irina-fortey.squarespace.com/the-mat-leave-memories/ You can follow the link to see some of her inspired work with a young family.
Irina’s passion project is a pop up series called the Missing Frame. I am excited and humbled to have Irina visiting my upcoming baby massage class to capture on film mothers with their wee ones as part of the Missing Frame.
(2018-06-24)