I had a post written out about how Beatrix has a tendancy to fall apart more intensely in the days following a busier than usual schedule. And then Typepad ate it (or I forgot to save it and closed the window...) So now I'm paraphrasing what was lost.
Last week was one of those weeks. Byron was out of town. The weekend was busy. There was lots of playing. Lots of socializing. Very fun, but very draining for the little one.
As you might predict, there were some serious meltdowns happening by Thursday...
In the lost post, I wrote about the necessity for Beatrix to have unscheduled free time at home. It calms both our souls I believe. While she is getting to the age where I could sign her up for in a multitude of activities, I choose not to. She needs time to breathe, to compose those cute little songs of hers, to coddle ladybugs and chase butterflies.
Yet I can see how parents would come to the decision of scheduling activities for their young children. It would seem like they are ready. In Bea's case, she doesn't nap everyday. She is very independent in caring for herself. She is social and articulate. All signs of readiness for something more, right?
As it is, she comes to school three mornings a week with me. Then we spend four days at home. And on at least two of those days at home, we try really hard not to get in the car. We are lucky in that all of our stomping points are within walking distance or a short bike ride from our house. Believe me, I am so very happy about this. To me, hopping into a stroller or the bike is a much less stressful endeavor (and even fun for both of us) than getting in and out of the car and dealing with the busyness of traffic.
Yesterday was one of our days home. We woke up, Byron and I had coffee, then I cooked breakfast and Byron left for work. We ate and then she played independently for about an hour. While she played, I tidied up the house. I washed the dishes, put laundry to wash, made the bed, swept the floor, mopped the kitchen, and picked up random bits of toys and junk that accumulate throughout the house on a daily basis. Then, we went outside to tend to the chickens and the garden and to hang out laundry on the line. Sometimes she helps me with these chores and sometimes she chooses to play. Yesterday, she mostly played. She pretended to build a fire by gathering bits of grass and sticks and pouring water over it...When I am in the front yard, she can spend an hour going up and down our driveway on her tricycle. Round and round. Back and forth. I love to watch and listen to her. Most often, Dolly rides right behind her. Sometimes the ride includes a trip to school, which is Daddy's garage. If they go to school, you can bet on circle time. Bea likes to be the teacher.
Some days we'll ride our bike to the library or walk to the hike and bike trails along the river, but we usually leave later in the morning so that we've both had a chance to feel a morning go by unhurried. I'll pack a snack and we'll eat it wherever we end up. Then we come home have a late lunch, read books, followed by some quiet time.
I am brainstorming ideas for the 4-6 pm period of our day. I need to be more organized in providing constructive guidance and suggestions for her choice of work or play. This is the most challenging block of time for us when we are both fighting the end of day fatigue, dinner needs to be prepared, and neither one of us has much patience for the other.
As it is, without finding extra activities to fit into our schedule, our days are full. I love that she gets to be with friends for part of the week and then gets to enjoy being home the rest of the week. Our mornings at home have proven to be some of the most special moments of motherhood. I hope to never forget those sweet, humming days of her younger years. They are, without a doubt, what I signed up for...
