Another hot, sunny afternoon. This one spent lazily in the backyard. A chance to sit back and relax, while the girls occupy themselves in their small wading pool, splashing around and cooling off.
The girls being somewhat, penned into their wading pool, doesn't just give me a little break. But also their treasured companions. The fifth and sixth members of our families. Perhaps, you could say, the most hard worked members. Meeting demands, the need for cuddles, comfort and company, not just through the day, but all through the night. I, at least, get to sleep in my own bed, without little fingers and hands searching for me. Looking for my eyes, nostrils and ears to poke and explore.
Little Red and Toby, as they're affectionately known, have taken a slightly harder battering than usual since moving to these parts. They're dropped in the red dirt regularly. Dragged in it. Crawled over by dirty knees. Held by dirty hands. And all the while, rarely allowed out of sight for a wash. They are looking, a little worse for wear. Slowly turning a slight shade of pinky red. But then maybe we all are. And we've just not realised it.
Both girls chose their own comforters. Their own favourite toy. Neither were the toy, that I thought, or hoped that they might love. I am often surprised, and was slow to appreciate, the strong emotional feelings that they both have for their little friends. How much comfort they bring, especially during what must feel like, long nights on their own in their beds.
Enjoy the well deserved break you two. You can have a wash soon, I promise.
Do your children have a must go everywhere comforter? Did it survive all that love without being lost, torn or worn out?
My seven year old has a hideous blue rabbit that got lost on a train ( seemed he wanted to head to the pool by himself) but was found again. He was rarely washed and is still in the bed at night ( aside from the 2 months he spent sealed in a box to finally break the thumb sucking habit). I finally washed a white tiger that had turned so creamy we both got a shock to see him looking so so white for the first time in his life!
ReplyDeleteMy girl has three lambs that must all be in bed at night, Lamby lamb, baby lamb and Hoppity lamb who has a bell and is often responsible for waking us early in the mornings. mel x
Oh you're very patient. We did have a doll with a bell in it, who was also a favourite for awhile. After a few early mornings, she was moved out of the bed and onto the bedside table!
DeleteFunny you are talking about this. I was just looking at a book about this very subject today and then I read this :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Much-Loved-Mark-Nixon/9781419710124
Oh my goodness Maneeko, that book is just gorgeous. I've never seen it before, thanks for posting the link xx
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