It’s not very often that I get to spend time with Leif without Lily. Lily was celebrating her best friend’s birthday the same day we were invited to go to Lucy Island with our friends. I wasn’t going to pass up a sunny day on Lucy so Leif and I packed our backpack and got dropped off before Lily was taken to the party.
I love my boy. I’ve been noticing lately that he’s going through some things, perhaps developmental changes. Very much like Lily at this age, he’s struggling sometimes when he’s frustrated. He’s quick to whine and can’t always hear beyond his immediate feelings.
I feel for him. I love him. I work so hard to be patient with him. More often I take a playful approach.
Leif loves to laugh so this is a great way to break through his frustration barrier!
Seeing Leif be the biggest kid this day offered me some wonderful insight. He was a great role model. He was patient and gentle with the little ones. He even came up with a solution when the two younger boys were fighting over a pirate patch when he offered up his own pirate eye patch. I was feeling pretty proud.
So even if he struggles sometimes, I’ll stay patient and playful and know he’s going to be all right and will learn to deal with his frustration differently and more proactively.
It was a lovely sunny day spent on Lucy Island. We had a wonderful time with friends.
Eliza has more independence these days, leaving Ani alone with me more of the time, and I cherish that too. When it’s a big gaggle of kids I almost don’t see them at all and it’s harder to help with those harder moments, so I love the days when it’s just us and we can fill each other up.
Annie, your photos are stunning. Haven’t commented on the last few posts, but I’ve gone back to look at them several times – esp the cabin one – and they are just beautiful. Oh, and your life looks pretty great too!
Thank you, Debbie. xx