Along with memories of soggy sandwiches and browned apple slices.
The wobbly bench was our special bench in our very local park.
By the time the removal fan pulled away from the curb, the wobbly bench no longer wobbled, stapled into resurfaced tarmac with four large nails. It wouldn't budge. Not an inch.
And then we found a new bench.
In a brand new park.
And this new park is a hop and a skip from our new home.
It trumps the old one.
There is a bouncy trampoline. I have tested it. It's adult proof. And big, big slides. And wooden Robinson Crusoe climbing frames. And sand. Lots and lots of sand. Swings. A tunnel. A hammock.
And a wooden seesaw, the seats carved into dragon's heads. A bucket on a solid silver chain for hoisting sand. Lots and lots of sand. A small wooden table and chairs for a teddy bears picnic.
But something has changed.
It's her.
No more games of Piggy and Bunny. Or Mummy Shark and Baby Shark.
"I'm a big girl now."
Always a 'big girl.'
She tears away from me.
"I'm going on the biggest slide." "I'm going on the biggest climbing frame."
"Stop taking pictures of me!"
I love her independence. Her sense of self.
How sometimes she absolutely doesn't need me. She has new playmates now.
She sits and watches the older children swinging and climbing.
I can see it in her eyes, 'one day... one day...'
Six months on, she still address' Younger Dad and I by our first names.
No more 'Mummy'. No more 'Daddy'.
I don't think this is a phase. It's sticking and stuck.
And I kind of don't mind.
This is the first day of the seasonal linky One Week. Over the next five days (Monday till Friday) I'll be posting a photograph(s) and a few words that diarises and distills my experience of spring '13. Take a peep at the details here. You can join in for one, two ... or the full five days. And don't forget to add #oneweek on Twitter, and comment on each others posts...
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She is lovely..I love her independence and how she calls you by your first name :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think that is ever going to stop :o).
DeleteMy kids used to call us by our first names too. Love the photos, so cute x
ReplyDeleteDid they. 'Used to' .... that bodes well, might mean Little A calls me 'mum' again one day. Thank you. X.
DeleteI'm so glad you've found a new bench - wobbly or otherwise and you'll be able to look back at these pics in 20 years and smile at the beginning of it all! Lovely pics and beautiful start to this wonderful meme as always xxx
ReplyDeleteHuzzah. Indeed! And you are so right - these are lovely memories we are capturing. Thank you lovely! X.
DeleteLooks like you have found a quality spot there! I can't remember for the life of me which post you poked me to link up so I've linked up that one - I suspect I may be wrong - sorry if I've muffed it all up already!
ReplyDeleteYou can't take me ANYWHERE.
Loving the photos x
We certainly have! Thank you so much for linking up (it was the right post :o) ). Thank you. X.
DeleteSo happy that you've found a lovely new park to play in. I'm constantly being told by CK that he is a big boy now and he gets cross with my if I tell him that he's still my baby. He also knows my real name and calls it me if I don't answer to mama straight away. It doesn't bother me in the least.
ReplyDeleteI know! So are we... and it is a really nice park as well. Little A is exactly the same, even if I call her a 'little girl', she still tells me off. I find her calling me by my first name very charming.
DeleteThe bench looks very solid :-) Love the story and the photos! Litle A is adorable x
ReplyDeleteIt is :o). Thank you :o). And she is. X.
DeleteAh, we do like a nice bench, and a park. Being photographed is something we grow into, learning to pose and smile. Until then, I rather like the photo of A's foot x.
ReplyDeletePerfect for a sit down and picnic aren't they? Glad you like the photo of her foot! X.
DeleteLovely post. Little A sounds so like Bibsey, another'Big Girl', so this made me smile a lot. I have a post to link up tomorrow. See you then x
ReplyDeleteThank you lovely! Huzzah - great to have you linking up again X.
DeleteBeautiful post - as always! It's funny how small children do the calling parents by their names thing, it makes me crease up when MP does it, though there's still more 'mummy' and 'daddy' than anything else! Fab photos! So want to link up this week, it will have to be client work willing, but I will be reading daily x
ReplyDeletep.s pleased to see you on the keynote list - though even more nervous now your amazing post is the one before my more light-hearted one!!! Really looking forward to catching up with you at BMLx
Thank you lovely lady. It sounds so precocious doesn't it and very charming all in one go! Fingers crossed you can link up but no pressure either :o). Love that we are both doing keynotes! I think our posts will work very well together (I'm worried mine is a bit too melodramatic). X.
DeleteThe new park sounds lovely and like the look of your sturdy bench :) Little A certainly seems to know her own mind! So wonderful watching them become more confident/independent, though remember feeling a tinge of sadness too. Just a little one x
ReplyDeleteIt is a really lovely park. Little A certainly knows her own mind! And it is lovely watching them become more confident etc. Hope we have loads more years left of cuddling! X.
DeleteAw what a little cutie! Love that you have found a new park and bench, I so know where you're coming from...we have the same thing at a local park and have 'our' special bench :) xx
ReplyDeleteAnd it is a lovely park too! I love having our special bench - so nice you have one too! X.
DeleteBless her, love the pictures of this very independent little person! I have a boy and a girl, the boy has always been easy going, happy to go along with whatever I suggest, and usually happy with his lot. My girl however, is Miss Feisty with a capital F, she does make me laugh! :)
ReplyDeleteShe's definitely a free spirit. Must be something to do with girls - they really know their minds from a very young age :o).
DeleteIt sounds as if you are doing the hardest and best thing that a mummy can do - let her be herself and she is blossoming. Glad you found a new park bench, I was wondering....
ReplyDeleteShe is certainly coming into her own :o). And we very much like the new park bench :o).
DeleteWow - that sounds like a Rolls Royce of a park! Fabulous. Am so glad you've found somewhere nice for playtime and that you have your new bench too. As for the names thing - I think more children do call their parents by their first names these days than previously. I hate being called by my name so it would be very weird for me if Pip started using it. I'm glad you don't mind! x
ReplyDeleteIt is a very nice park and Little A really enjoys it. Little A calling me by my first name is something I've had to accept for the time being :o). X.
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