Play is such an important part of a child's development - but it's also such an important part of a parent's well being too. When you see your kids playing together it's hard not to stop what your doing every time and grab the camera. Seeing Ben and Rachel play happily together fills my emotional tank and gives me energy to keep moving forward.
The other day they were playing hide and seek. The dialogue went as follows,
Rachel: Okay Ben you count and I'll hide!
Ben: Oooo ide! (you hide)
Rachel: Okay GO! (takes off running)
Ben chased after her and followed her into her favorite hiding spot - the shower.
Rachel: No Ben YOU are supposed to count! OK I'll count and YOU hide!
Ben: Ooo ide! (you hide)
Rachel covered her eyes and started counting. "One!"
Ben covered his eyes and yelled "Doo!" (two)
I sat on the couch and tried to hide my laughter - because as soon as they know you're watching it all stops. After a few rounds of two seekers and no hiders and vice versa Ben finally caught on - and boy oh boy he became a PRO! As soon as the word "ONE" was out of Rachel's mouth Ben was GONZO. He took off as fast as his little legs would take him and he would find the GREATEST HIDING PLACES! Under the desk behind the chair, in the shower, behind the couch - once he even hid in the closet in the spare bedroom downstairs! Where does this kid FIND these places! He's only 18 months old! The other day I heard Rachel trying to discipline Ben - "Ben you give me that right now - ONE...TWO..." He took off running and hid himself in the tupperware cupboard! Life is one big game to him right now - and I love it.
Yesterday my sibs-in-law, Leece and Aaron, and I took the kiddies to the park. Can there be a better place for a couple of kids than the park? We pushed them on the swings till our arms fell off and then ventured to the slides. This kind of play has helped my kids to overcome fear. Rachel went on the BIG KID slide - and although the first run left her shaking like a leaf, the runs that ensued brought thrilling feelings of excitement and speed and PRIDE - SHE IS OFFICIALLY A BIG KID. Ben was also afraid at first and didn't like the swings - but we started out slow and by the end of the day we were pushing him higher than Rachel. Do you remember that? Do you remember being little and trying something new for the first time and being so scared? Like your first time down the big water slide, or your first time riding the Colossus at Lagoon. You were scared to death the first go - but when you finished the ride and realized that you not only survived it but actually ENJOYED IT - it was like you graduated your infant stage and a whole new world of excitement and possibility opened up to you. "If I can enjoy THIS water slide - imagine how much fun THAT one will be!"
Watching my kids play makes me happy. It's one of the "little things" that lift me up and remind me why I made the decision to become a parent in the first place. Watching them conquer their fears helps me to conquer my own. Conquering fear is a good thing to do when you're 29.
So is playing.
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