So much of the joy of parenting, for me, is found in those simple moments. You may have the same moments every day; in some respects even take them for granted. Yet still you gain so much joy from them.
For us, one of these simple, but magical, pleasures is going to the playground. We are so blessed in our area with many fabulous parks and playgrounds, all with amazing equipment. Recently, I have been feeling increasingly like I am failing Baby. I am so desperate to make a go of things, that I am tapping away at any available opportunity; constantly on the go and always trying to move on to the next thing. The mornings that Baby is happy to entertain herself with Sheriff Callie or Doc, I abuse. I may be physically with her, but I am not truly present.
A few days ago I read a few posts that made me cry and I am going to link them, as maybe they will mean as much to you as they did to me. The first was this wonderful post by the lovely Michelle over at Bod for Tea. Boy did it strike a cord, I went on to read the two posts she suggested. Apart from feeling like they were talking about me, it made me realise I need to change. To try and slow down, as Michelle did.
Baby loves trips to the playground, but sometimes I forget this. I am busy and I know she will cope with not going, so sometimes we don’t. What I have come to realise is, that it doesn’t matter that she will cope, what matters is that she loves it, we both love it. So I need to make time; make time to always ensure my daughter is put first.
I will find the time to watch her enjoying the slide, as if it the most fun she has ever had. I will have the time to help her climb up from the bottom.
I will take the time to watch over her as she conquers the obstacles and enjoys climbing, just because. I can’t remember the last time I did something, just because.
I will relish the time taken to watch her point with glee at the birds, run around like she is possessed and I will watch as she takes one leaf from the ground, ventures across the playground to post it through the gate.
I will slow down, find the time, take the time, enjoy the time. My daughter won’t be this age forever, so I must not miss this time.
I am linking up with the following fabulous bloggers and their lovely linkys.
Katie from Mummy Daddy Me for #OrdinaryMoments
Jaime at The Olivers’ Madhouse for #MagicMoments
Charly at Podcast Dove for #What’sTheStory
Fiona at Coombe Mill for #CountryKids
Comments 34
we love the playpark too, she looks like she’s having a brilliant time! love her style! 🙂 #magicmoments
Author
Thanks hun x
Yay to your realisation that family comes first. blogging is all absorbing but family is best. the beauty of the great outdoors together is that it gives you plenty to blog about with very little effort capturing those truly precious together times. I find writing them up late at night means i don’t compromise on my family time. thank you for sharing your revelation and your lovely park time on Country Kids.
Author
I struggle so much to fit everything I have to do into the evenings. I have only had two nights off blogging in about 10 months and that was because I was at blogging conferences! Thanks for stopping by x
Oh this is so true! As parents, we have to constantly reminds ourselves that its the little things that count and not to stress out over matters that’s just way beyond us. And yes, our little ones must always come first #whatsthestory.
Author
It is so difficult when there is an endless to do list and only ever 24 hours in a day! x
It’s posts like this that make me so proud to be a blogger and to share my imperfect motherhood with others – thank you for mentioning my post and I’m glad it inspired you. Slowing down, relishing every moment, it’s a difficult, but a beautiful thing x
Author
I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful post and thank you for stopping by. I am finding it difficult, as slowing down is against my nature, but it will happen x
Such a beautiful post xxx
Author
Thank you so much, that means a lot xxx
Lovely words! My son loves playground as well and so true that sometimes we have to skip it cuz of some chores. I also try to make time for our playground (or walking) trips cuz I think more than being out its us making memories together and bonding on something that we both love =) #MagicMoments
Author
Thank you. I need to focus on the simple things x
Boo loves the park too, we are lucky that we have one that’s local and recently been completely updated. It’s such fun and this year we have had weather nice enough to enjoy it a lot longer than normal!
So many lovely photos =)
Author
Thanks hun x
What lovely words and a lovely post Aby. It’s so true, I often do or don’t do things for the sake of an easy life, or because we are busy or because I sometimes just can’t be bothered. But then you see their little faces and you remember exactly what is important. They won’t be this little forever. x
Author
Thank you huni. It is so hard sometimes, isn’t it? To try to do everything x
Great post Aby, I can relate and I’ve slowed down a lot in recent months. The only thing that should be all consuming is our children xx #WhatstheStory
Author
Totally, I just need to find a way to achieve it now xx
Enjoy it. We don’t go to the park nearly so often now that school gets in the way.
A lovely post. It is hard to stop sometimes and take a step back. Baby M loves the swings, I look forward to him exploring other park fun as he gets older xx
Author
Thank you. Slowing down is very hard for me to do, against my nature x
I totally get this. I’m even more painfully aware of this with my third baby – the others demand my attention, the housework / building work demands my attention, my work demands my attention. Bo rarely demands my attention and I feel she’s often at the bottom of the pile as a result.
#MagicMoments
Author
It is so hard isn’t it. We have no family/childcare support, so I have her all the time when hubby at work. Which is wonderful, but does mean I try to multitask (there just isn’t enough time in the evenings to do everything) xx
What a lovely post with a lovely message. Slowing down and enjoying our children is so important xx
#countrykids
Author
Thank you so much. xx
This is such a beautiful post, hun. The fact you are worrying about what she likes, the fact you realise you are not always 100% with her whilst being physically present shows how much you care and what a loving mummy you are. Well done for making the decision to slow down for the sake of your beautiful little girl. We won’t get back the time with our little ones, and every day is so precious. x #MagicMoments
Author
I really appreciate your comment, thank you. Right now I feel like a pretty rubbish mum, so many things pulling me in different directions and there is no help with Baby, so I have her all the time. I think this means I am always trying to multitask x
You’re so right. Arthur’s very easygoing too and will happily play independently whilst I get on with stuff – but he’s obviously so much happier if I’m giving him my full attention, especially if that means playing outside! A really lovely post 🙂 xx
Author
Thank you hun. It is so easy to get things skewed, I just wish there were more hours in the day xx
You’re so right. Sometimes I get so caught up with chores around the house that I don’t realize that my daughter has more fun playing with me rather than playing independently. So it’s a nice reminder for me to slow down and really put into perspective our time together. Your daughter’s outfits and faces are adorable! Thanks for sharing 🙂
She is just beautiful! I am so grateful for the nice times with my gals, too. My oldest is turning 18 soon and that makes it just that much clearer to me how little time we have with them!
lovely post i think its easy sometime to get carried away and forget the real important things in life! xx
Aby Baby is such a cutie .. i am so glad you got those special moments
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
Author
Thank you lovely xx