Living in the Moment

As adults we spend so much time planning or thinking over past events that we can often forget to ""stand and stare" as William Henry Davies encapsulated beautifully in his poem.  Living in the moment comes so naturally to children but as adults and especially as busy mothers we are constantly multitasking - writing shopping lists whilst arranging doctors appointments whist packing a bag for nursery and wondering what to make for dinner.  I spend so much time being busy that when I get some rare time off my work as a childminder and Ethan is at nursery I feel strange.  Perhaps I had better clear the cupboards out or go into town I think, make use of this time.

This afternoon I didn't do anything productive.  I went for a walk, bought a pot noodle and enjoyed consuming the powdery wrongness (I would blame pregnancy hormones but to be honest I just really like very wrong food!) before finally seeing what all the fuss was about and watching Black Mirror on catch up.  I didn't decide what we are having for dinner.  I didn't do next weeks planning.  I just enjoyed the passing of time.  I went to pick Ethan up from nursery feeling recharged and positive.  He stopped to pick a leaf up on the way home.  Why?  Because he saw it and he liked it at that moment, simple as.  When we got in I got the pebbles and a baking tray out for him to play with.  He loved playing with them, describing what they felt and looked like.  Then I asked him if he wanted them on the farm.  He did.  We got the construction vehicles out and he played happily with them using the tipper truck to pour pebbles out.  He added his die cast Chuggington trains and toilet roll tunnels to the game.  We shared a beautiful time together, living in the moment.  Sometimes the simplest materials to play with provide the most enriching experience for child and parent (or Grandma - the toilet roll tunnels game was one they started together and play every time she visits now).  Seeing the satisfaction my boy takes from heuristic play I wonder why we are seduced into buying fancy electronic plastic fantastic stuff for our children.  A child's imagination and way of being is something we could all learn a lot from.