She held up the little plastic dinosaur, her eyes sparkling and full of fun. "Is it a ...cat?" I asked. "No!", she shrieked with laughter, "its a dinosaur!" We played again a couple more times, each time my outrageous suggestions that the stegosaurus or the diplodocus were a dog or rabbit got similar reactions.... instant giggling and a loud clear "No"! She picked up the game quickly and now it was her turn to pick up a plastic animal (I think it was a horse) and, trying not to giggle, she asked, "is it a... dog?" On cue, I laughed and said "no!", adding a head slap for greater effect. She looked on, delighted and tried again.
Almost 3 year olds have an almost magical quality about them. They are full of wonder, delight and fascination... endless energy and a sense of awe and amazement as they go about their lives. The impromptu game I played with my new little friend was delightful. She was right there in the moment with me- her whole little being laughing and playing along.
I came away from my morning of interacting with many shining eyed little 3 and 4 year olds, with a deep sense of gratitude and joy. How amazing that that which gives me so much joy is also what I get to call my job! As I recounted my morning when I got home, I couldn't ignore the dull heartache I felt, like a knot in my chest, a sense of longing for years past, a simpler time, when my own children were that age. Soon to be in High School and Middle School, my own are long past the simplicity and utter joy of the genre of peek-a-boo games. Their joy looks and feels different these days - as it should. And as much as each age and stage has had a full circle of highs and lows, trials and tribulations and lots of love and laughter, that little preschool phase holds some of my fondest memories of my children and my role as their mother. I loved their energy, the mischief and laughter in their eyes, their joy at discovering something new or not being phased at something not working right away. I loved holding them and playing with them and listening to them giggle and snort.
I miss my little ones and that time so much it hurts.
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