Trying not to view life through a lens
When I started my blog, the main purpose was to keep a record of the girls as they grow up. I want to capture so many key moments in their lives. I want to look back at them and relive them growing-up, and I want them to be able to see what what their lives were like. However, I need to be able to strike a balance between watching them doing all of this through my camera lens and actually being there in the moment and experiencing all of this with them.
It became really obvious to me on a recent trip to Stratford Park in Stroud that recording memories doesn’t just mean taking photos. On the morning of our visit, we were lucky enough to have some beautiful spring weather. We grabbed some bread to feed to the ducks as we left the house and put on waterproofs and wellies as we were expecting mud.
After feeding the ducks, we walked through the park towards the play area. The girls climbed over rocks and walked along fallen tree trunks. Freyja’s confidence has really grown since she started school, and Emily is only too keen to try and copy her big sister. They held my hand when they felt unsure and jumped into my arms as they descended from their natural climbing frames.
We arrived at the play area and the girls jumped onto the first things that they saw:
However, soon after they had each spotted different equipment that they wanted to play on. Emily went for the roundabout, running and pushing the bar to get it moving before leaping on.
Freyja was feeling more adventurous. She headed over the the climbing frame, and surprised me with wanting very little assistance from me as she crawled across a walkway, before sliding down the fireman’s pole all by herself.
Emily is pretty fearless, and before long she wanted to climb too. For her it was on a net to get up onto the top of the climbing frame and making sure I knew that she was “the King of the castle”.
She then had great fun on the slide. It wasn’t particularly slippy, so she stopped before the end. To make it more enjoyable, after she had come to a standstill, she stood up and jumped off the end, always proceeded by “look at meee!”
I felt a little redundant. I have always been almost hovering over them whenever we go to a playground, being there if they needed me, but in reality I think I have just been scared that they will hurt themselves if I am not. Whilst Emily continued on her seemingly endless loops of climbing up, sliding down and jumping off the climbing frame, interspersed with a few crawling through lower level tunnels and shouting “boo!”, I watched Freyja from afar, climbing on some stepping stones made from old logs. I made myself stand still and watch her. No running after her to check if she were ok, no taking photos. Just being in the moment and properly watching her. She suddenly seemed so grown up. So independent. I didn’t feel a twinge of panic that she might hurt herself as I wasn’t right there, I just enjoyed seeing her play. The moment was then interrupted by a loud “BOO!”
Before long Freyja had come back from her little adventures further afield, but it wasn’t for the security of me being close by. She wanted to play with her little sister. They don’t need to have the images here on a blog to remember the fun they have together, but sometimes it is nice to have the photographic evidence.
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It can be hard to stand back and just enjoy the moment though can’t it? I am always rushing around checking that they are ok, where I think I need to stand back a bit more and let them explore and learn without as much guidance and shouting of “be careful” from me! Lovely photos too 🙂 #countrykids
What a lovely trip for you all, it’s great that Freyja’s building in confidence since starting school and Emily’s confident enough to try to keep up with her older sister. I remember the moment with each of mine where they became independent enough to carry on on their own without so much fuss, it’s a big step! I love the shot of Freyja and Emily hugging at the end, the look on Emily’s face is definitely one of sisterly love! Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
They have their moments (every day) but they do genuinely love each other. Emily adores her big sister and wants to be just like her.
Amazing moments you have captured!
Everytime my son is at play I am also just standing there soaking up the moment and I have to confess that my heart would skip a beat everytime he would go high! But I am trying my best not to run and let him climb and play. But like you I am there to hold my son’s hand when he seems to feel unsafe =)
#countrykids
My heart is in my mouth when they go up somewhere so high. I get so worried that they will fall.
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It’s a difficult balance. Standing back and letting them explore. I have so many missed photo opportunities too, just enjoying the fun then realise I haven’t taken a photo! #countrykids
I am such a snapper that I really have to stop and think and just enjoy time with my son at times too. They grow up so fast that actually experiencing the moment is so much more important. Looks like they loved their trip to the park #CountryKids
It is so tempting to just keep on taking photos, but really is liberating to just enjoy the moment sometimes.
I go through phases of leaving the camera at home, especially when the girls decide they have had enough photos for a while. Sometimes its just nice to join in jumping in puddles, running through long grass and skipping along with the three of them. Looks like they had lots of fun #countrykids
I think I need to keep my phone firmly in my pocket on some of our trips out. So hard to get the balance of recording moments and actually enjoying the moment.