I can’t quite believe it’s been this long since my last post – hello hello, anybody out here? Anyway, so we are back from Devon with a much improved little potato.
During the first few days he only wanted to play in the car… I know, but he’s a city boy and he’s never allowed to play in the car because it’s parked in the street. In Brixton. Anyway so there he sat there for hours on end making ‘brmm’ noises, yanking on the steering wheel and honking the milk right out of the cows. This changed however which is a Good Thing for the interior of our car which was getting a tad on the sticky side...
Our cousins nearby also have a small farm as well as a very, very Big Dog who thinks she’s a small child. She therefore absolutely loves ‘other’ small children and the sight of this massive Alsatian nosing playfully around my son would have warmed my heart if it hadn’t already been in my mouth getting gnawed around the edges. He thought she was the best thing ever needless to say and after that he gave up on the car and was all about the animals. We would turn around and he would be gone, to be found five seconds later pushing bits of hay through the barn gate at some frankly terrified calves, or standing fearfully as a giant piglet leapt up at him to snort hopefully in his direction.
I think he liked it – most of all I think he liked the sense of freedom which allowed him to run heedlessly away across a field without me following him or swooping him up to drag him back. I don’t think he could believe it to be honest.
Since we’ve been back he’s been a lot more independent. He’s more comfortable playing on his own, he runs less like he’s about to fall over and when he does, he gets back up without much in the way of histrionics. He walks more and the other day he picked up his reins, walked with me to the park, played for a while and then decided all by himself that it was time to leave and we walked happily home together without any of the usual arguments.
So, a week in the country. A Good Thing. Now can someone detail my car, please?
11 comments:
Hello, hello... I'm out here, Sparx! So wonderful to hear of Spud's new found independence. The country is a really great place for children in that way. Thanks for another great, funny post!
Whee, that's great to hear! Now let's hope I grow as much by way of independence after MY upcoming solo trip(sadly not to the country, but to the country's capital. sigh. I miss babies and animals!) :P
Welcome back! Glad you all enjoyed it. Dylan decided on his own to come inside the other day and I almost fell over. Our little boys are growing up so fast!
We used to pick organic veg at a local farm. I carried 4 spare changes of clothes for each visit. One for The Hair when he fell in to the horse pond. Another for The Hair when he fell in to the duck pond. A third for the The Hair when he walked in to one or the other on purpose. And one for me because on that third one I inevitably ended up soaked too.
Michelle (much less confusing now you're not 'Ryan and Michelle' anymore!) - thanks! It is the best... wish we lived there...
Suki - have a great trip! And, let's face it, capital cities are full of politicians which is almost like being on a farm really...
Jen - goodness, really? Was it raining?! ;)
Helen - that made me laugh! I can't believe he'd fall into two ponds by mistake though... sounds worse than me for coordination!
Never underestimate that attraction bodies of water have for small boys. It's like magnets. In the middle of winter The Hair once skated into water............an unfrozen puddle at the edge of the bullrushes.........the rest of the pond was frozen solid for at least 6" down. Or another winter-time when he was maybe a year and he put his hand in hole in the cement and came out with a soaking wet mitten. Or the other day when he rode his bike home from school.......through a creek. Or..............
lol this post made me smile. histrionics is a great word btw...
Biarritz, Devon, where next? Welcome back!
Children always love coming here for the calves and pigslets and like you say they can't quite believe they can run across a field 'all on their own'.
Mostly the child and car need a good hosing down afterwards though!
A great post, you've made me re-appreciate how much freedom my children have.
Sounds lovely! although I would have had a totally irrational freak-out at a dog as a playmate, but then I am a very neurotic woman when it comes to animals. You would never guess i was practically brought up by cows and sheep
You can't beat the countryside for total toddler entertainment though
A great post as usual! - we have missed you!
Oooh the bit about the dog, yikes. N3S could easily be voted as 'Child most likly to be savaged by a dog' due to his inability to recognise when enough is enough and yet he simply adores the great hunks of teeth and fur. I age a great deal each time one approaches.
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