More than play and play

While Ben's safety town programme ended a week ago, big brother Jon gets his share of "play and play" with other children his age and older, at a playground programme that's all about fun and games.

Only thing, he would get a bump one day, and a bruise the next, and twice at pick-up time I had to be briefed over the incidents.

Not that I don't worry. Or wish Jon won't always trudge back so much dirt and mud. This is my child, from when he was very little, will collect sand and rocks in his pockets, and enjoys (still does) lying down on the playground to make gravel(!) angels, as much as he does (after coming here) snow angels! Up till before summer started, he was still ripping his long pants at the knee, I hadn't stopped using iron-on patches to salvage them for a few more wears. He's also notorious for wearing out his sneakers, from all that kicking around -- his record is less than two weeks into starting a new pair! And we just had to tell him to take better care of his things!

Play and pray...
Still, rugged as boys are, and some girls more than others, I know that beyond just the "play and play" for Jon, and Ben, it's also about "pray and pray" for me the mom. And Bkworm's recent reminder "When He Plays, She Prays" doesn't come a moment too soon.

My kids are young, yes, but I'm seeing more and more that their emotional needs are much trickier than the everyday physical ones -- sapping as those are, but still more straightforward nonetheless, to meet. It's almost a whole new ball game when it touches on how they feel, and believe it or not, I've already got a foretaste of the "Mom, you don't get me!", and boy, does it feel not so good.

Parenthood just gets tougher as our children grow, doesn't it? I don't think moms or dads ever stop worrying, but we want to let our babies take own steps, make their own decisions, so they know that life has its ups and downs, and the world is not a perfect one.

Whatever stage your child's at, may God be our guide always!

Shots that Jon asked me afterwards how come he didn't know I'd taken. Oh, just mommy watching him from a distance, and knowing he's doing OK! ;p


It's Jon's first time at the day camp...
And there was one particular case of "I struggled in the water, but the lifeguard didn't come to help me", despite his cries -- that was the single most important one we had to bring to the attention of his camp counsellors. It had somehow escaped their radar.

There were other incidents Jon complained to us about, besides a badly scraped knee that I could tell must hurt quite a bit. And he did make it sound like he might give up the camp midway. I'm glad he's stuck to it though.

At the very next pick-up from the pool, when I asked him how that afternoon had gone, he said as if the earlier near-drowning scare was a thing of the distant past, "Oh, it was OK... I prayed on the way there."

And now, even Ben will be sure to add in our prayer, for God to "keep us safe"... wherever we are, whatever we do! =)

A shot of the brothers, on the day the safety town BBQ was held at the park where most of the playground programme's activities take place...