Spring is finally here after a lengthy and chilly winter. We had lots and lots of snow this year (is it okay yet to use past tense?? Am I jinxing things?!) and people were cooped up. It's been great fun over the past week to see people outside.
I'm lucky being a teacher, in that I can get Mabel from day care by 4, and we have time to frolic on the lawn at the house or visit the local playground. Mabel really enjoys the outdoors-- true to form for a toddler-- as she's got uncharted territory on which to run around and get all sandy and filthy. For the first time, she has been PISSED when I make her leave day care, as it means removing her from the toy car or the mini- bike or just the lawn. She is so strong now that she grapples with me to be put back down onto the grass-- and is almost successful-- shimmying her little body down the front of mine to get to the ground for more playtime. Feisty little thing!
Yesterday I took Mabel to the local playground, and met a friend of mine with her two kids there. The older kids-- above 2, that is-- took to the various play items, but Mabel was just on a mission to explore. Staying upright on such uneven and rough terrain is a challenge, and she was tuckering herself out. The funniest part was that Mabel wanted nothing more than to touch this other family's stroller. I kept trying to redirect her to the horsies and playcars and sandbox, but she would squirm and then run back to this stroller. The mom was good- natured and found it funny, but I know Mabel was probably bordering on annoying, so I continued to scoop her up repeatedly-- but man, would she whine! She's going through this fascination with babies right now, shouting "ayyyy-bee!" at any real baby, fellow toddler, or doll. Hence, the appeal of the stroller. Eventually I got her into the sandbox, and she had fun scooping sand into piles, despite the sand making its way into her eye a few times. She was perfectly content in her little sun hat-- scoop, dump, repeat. Ruin pile. Start again. As she sat, and I chatted with my friend C, I watched the "big kids" jump all over the playground-- the slides, bars, etc. And I got this chilling and startling feeling of, what if Mabel doesn't make friends? Obviously she was playing alone because she is one, and she can't truly socialize yet or keep up. But I couldn't help but feel a pang of heartbreak for moms and dads who have to watch their older kids sit alone at the sandbox. I nearly cried. That sadness was summarily obliterated by a few boys cheerily chanting, 'Bye Jack!' to some other boy. It was so innocent, so sweet, so non- judgey, so non- cliquey, so non- mean- girl/ boy. I hate to think that their unadulterated friendliness ends at some point. Sometimes I am so scared of the evils of the world and what they will do to Mabel that I want to block her from everything. I know that's the worst thing I could do though.
To end on a happier note, she loved the swings-- as always. She laughed uproariously when I pushed her, and into the wide open air she went! What a joy it was to finally be outside. She started calling out for both daddy and doggie while we were there-- all I can assume is something there made her think of them, but I'm not sure what. I love the brain associations-- my friend Doris told me her sweet little girl was shouting "Elmo!" on a walk, and she didn't know why-- until she noticed the RED fire hydrants!! Sooo cool!
Today is cloudy but still warm. If the rain holds off, we shall venture into the yard for some swing and slide. As a mom, it's so wonderful to have the time outside. Yeah, they have fun, and that's great, but all the playing and running also tires them out excellently. :)
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