Sunday, December 12, 2021

The Simple Wonders of Childhood

One tends to forget how much children love to play in the snow.
 
We had another substantial snowfall this past Wednesday and Thursday, our daughter, the nanny, brought her little three-year old buddy here for a visit.
 
I suggested the two of them go out to shovel off our deck and wooden walkway.  With helpers like that around I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity.
 

We had a small, light-weight camping shovel just the right size for a short person so out they went to do the job.
 
When daughter noticed her companion continually falling off the deck and walkway, which are both a short distance up from ground level, she asked him if he was doing that on purpose.
 
To which he replied, "No, I'm doing it for fun!"
 
Also eating handfuls of snow must have been fun, too, as I'm guessing he consumed something equal to a half gallon of water doing so.  Our daughter said it reminded her of when she was small and I made her "slushies" with maple syrup or home canned juice drizzled over the top of a cupful of new fallen snow.
 
There's a lesson to be learned.  In the past, I've shoveled off our deck and walkways a gazillion times but have never jumped or "fallen off" into the snow for fun.  And, golly-gosh, I wonder when was the last time I ate a handful of new fallen snow?  

12 comments:

Nancy In Boise said...

How fun, go jump in!!!

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - I'll bet it will better than jumping into a pile of leaves. Which I haven't done in many, many years either! ;o)

Retired Knitter said...

ahh yes, spend time with a child and see the world through their eyes if you dare - and it is better than any therapist!

Rosalea said...

Lucky, lucky you! What a beautiful fall of snow. I've been known to 'play in the snow'!!
Our snow is MEEELLLTTING! It didn't even go below freezing last night.

Mama Pea said...

Retired Knitter - Oh, if only we could keep that spirit of indulging in all the fun things of life. If only "growing up" didn't include so many responsibilities. We let them take too much of our time!

Rosalea - I know, our snow is melting, too. :o( It was 35° when I got up this morning and I can see the frames of the raised beds starting to peek through again. Darn. Also (double darn), we have RAIN forecast for this coming Thursday.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

My Mom used to make us snow ice cream with freshly fallen snow. I remember it being good, but not sure I'd make it again ha ha!

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - I'm guessing you would be a bit hesitant to use snow from "polluted" areas? Can't blame you there. The memories are still good though!

Nancy In Boise said...

I forgot to add my one grandson actually loved raking leaves! My husband Dave showed him how to do it he's 5 oh, and he insisted on taking the entire yard into a big pile and when Dave tried to help him get a few areas he missed he grabbed the rake back and said no I'll do it! Cute

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - Just goes to prove that little ones just want to do "big" people's work. If only we could give them the really big tasks that we adults don't enjoy doing anymore!!

Lisa K Thomasson Jung said...

My son loved the snow and trying to clean the cars and driveway. Just if I never had to drive in it.

wyomingheart said...

Dontcha just love the energy and brutal honesty of the youngsters? Love that little guy! Have a perfect week!

Mama Pea said...

Lisa - That's what I mean about leaving childhood behind and growing into adulthood . . . we have to do things in snow (yep, like driving) that you never think of or have to deal with as a child. I'm glad kids have that time of innocence and fun, aren't you?

wyomingheart - It's true that kids say the darndest things, isn't it? Out of mouths of babes . . . ;o)