Letter to my children: Spring swinging

“Can I bring my backpack to the swing set and then you can meet me there when it is time to leave?”

“Me too!”

“Dragon wants to too.”

“Of course, I will see you in a little bit.”

Crisp new air met me as I opened the window and gazed out at the two of you swinging back and forth. Snippets of conversation rose up over the birdsong and the rumbles of a planes overhead.

Dragon spun a round frisbee at swinging Bean. She caught it on her leg and then flung it off into the anemic grass.

The sound of swing chains pivoting back and forth joined the sound of the planes and the birds.

Dearests, the jungle gym arrived the year Dragon turned one. I knew when Dragon threw himself off the two story slide at the playground a month after he began walking, a jungle gym would be a good idea.

And it has been - such a good idea.

This week brought a cloudless sun streaming down to awaken the daffodils, tulips, dandelions, apricot blossoms, hyacinth, and crocuses. Our laundry can go outside to dry now. A week ago we would start the day with a fire to warm the early morning chill, this week I was able to open windows.

As winter releases its hold and spring bursts forth - the two of you are manifesting that bursting with your enthusiasm to swing.

The moment dinner is finished you two start your chorus. “Momma, can we go play on the swings?”

“You need to finish your dinner if you want any dessert.”

“I don’t want any dessert.”

“Wait, I want frozen blueberries! Can we have frozen blueberries for dessert?”

“Me too! Can we have ocho?”

“Yes, of course. Blueberries are a good idea.”

“Can we have nine of them?”

“As long as you eat them either at the table or outside, you may have ten. That way each of them has a buddy. Count them out. Two, four, six, eight.”

“Okay, Momma, will you watch us?”

“Yes, I will sit right here by the window and watch you swing.”

“Bean, I want you to push me.”

“Okay.”

Legs straighten then bend akimbo, back and forth, back and forth.

Up and down as the sun warms the earth and bees pollinate the first blossoms.