I am not scared

Please stop asking my children if they are scared while touching spiders, stick insects, cockroaches or baby crocodiles... And don't call them brave either...

If they were scared, they wouldn't touch... What has bravery to do with stroking some harmless animal anyway?

And yes, they will become scared if every person asks the very same question...

Children by nature are extremely curious and not scared at all. Perhaps just refrain from any comments...

...

Dear stranger, why do you call me a boy?

Is is because of my goretex boots? You know, I like to walk in puddles and mud...

Is it because of that bruise on my forehead? You know, I just fell over while exploring...

Is it because of my coat? You know, this used to be my brother's coat...

Is is because I've been running up and down the church for an hour? You know, some girls are wild too...

Is it because of my short and tangled up hair? You know, I like to paint and bake and get incredibly messy...

Is it because my face is covered in mud? You know, I just kissed a mud puddle...

Is it because of my loud squealing? You know, I got excited about the bus passing by...

Is it because you would expect a clean face, framed in pink and glitter? You know, I like to dress up and play tea parties, but I don't want to be pretty and neat and quiet all the time...

So dear stranger, I ask you again, why do you call me a boy?

You know, I am a happy little girl... A wild one...

Slow down mummy!

Slow down mummy! 


Let's watch the twenty second train passing by...



Let's find where the rainbow starts... 



Let's take the shoes off and pretend to be geckos...



Let's inspect all the finger puppets under the microscope...



Let's get rolling in paint...



Let's bake and make a lot of mess...














Let's spent the entire morning making sea animals out of playdough...



Let's dance any play harmonica until we drop dead...



Don't rush us mummy. Let us be...

This is MINE!

Toy sharing and taking turns seems to be such a massive concept for my little boy. Frustration after frustration... 

And then I take them out, where there are no toys, just mud and leaves and branches and water and sand... And I have never ever heard him say: 'This is my maple leaf!' or 'This is my stone!' or 'This is my duck!' 

Christmas eve

Church

Not so harmonious baking...

Making bread is a very straightforward task, unless you have little helpers.... 

A toddler, who wants to take all the flour out of the mixer or bang on the mixer while operating... 

A preschooler, who attempts to add whole hazelnuts to the mixture, fix the mixer with the biggest kitchen knife or eat the yeast and the dough...

But the bread turned out just perfect...

                                      

Barefoot tree climbing

I do not cease to be amazed by children discovering the world around them... So simple and enjoyable...

Barefoot tree climbing on a very cold autumn morning...

Swimming in autumn leaves... 

Why adults don't do the same?