We've been spending the weekend at my parents', and there were lots of potential 'moments' to choose from:
Grandma & Grandpa cuddles.
Stuffing our faces with food we wouldn't normally have, like chips and steak and chocolate biscuits.
Creating chaos with the cousins.
Motoring around a big, big house clutching a swiped remote control. Or two.
Looking longingly at all the lovely, very breakable ornaments.
But the best one of all has been the simplest, most ordinary pleasure of them all: dirt. Or more precisely, unrestricted access to dirt. Dirt you can dig your fingers into. Dirt you can smear over you face. Dirt you can sprinkle onto the patio. Dirt you can have a little nibble at. Then come back for a little more.
Grandma & Grandpa cuddles.
Stuffing our faces with food we wouldn't normally have, like chips and steak and chocolate biscuits.
Creating chaos with the cousins.
Motoring around a big, big house clutching a swiped remote control. Or two.
Looking longingly at all the lovely, very breakable ornaments.
But the best one of all has been the simplest, most ordinary pleasure of them all: dirt. Or more precisely, unrestricted access to dirt. Dirt you can dig your fingers into. Dirt you can smear over you face. Dirt you can sprinkle onto the patio. Dirt you can have a little nibble at. Then come back for a little more.
The dirt was great. Even better was that I didn't have to scratch my head about what bit of dirt to take him to. That I could finally let him at it, without worrying about dog poo or cigarette butts.
Every kid should have lots of experiences with good old ordinary dirt. It's just a shame that, in the concrete jungle that is Milan, decent dirt is hard to come by. I'm hopeful for the spring though - I'm going to make it my mission to find new, potentially tasty bits instead of whining about the fact there isn't anywhere to go nearby. Who knows what sprinkly, smeary fun we might have.
Every kid should have lots of experiences with good old ordinary dirt. It's just a shame that, in the concrete jungle that is Milan, decent dirt is hard to come by. I'm hopeful for the spring though - I'm going to make it my mission to find new, potentially tasty bits instead of whining about the fact there isn't anywhere to go nearby. Who knows what sprinkly, smeary fun we might have.
