Splinter – Weds 20th Jan 2016
By Jeannette | January 20, 2016
D tried her best but she just couldn’t make the ice crack and she loved it!
After a few weeks, today was the first time we’d been able to walk home from school through the “deep, dark woods”. A combination of roadworks as we approach D’s school and heavy rain meant that either the woods had turned to marshland or that D was too anxious to go past the diggers and workmen before we’d cross the road after the clearing.
We’d been resigned to walking the longer way, past the busy primary school with its hoards of pupils either running to it (morning) or whizzing out (afternoon).
It hasn’t been making for a terribly settled girl.
This afternoon though I could see the anxieties lifting from her as we walked back through the woods and to the little lake.
She tried throwing stones on to the frozen lake to see if any would pass through the icy surface and make that “plop” sound that always makes her laugh. None did but that didn’t detract from her enjoyment. A couple splintered the ice and we watched as a crack appeared and a little bit of water rippled through, as if there was a small fountain underneath. We saw air bubbles appear under the ice. Obviously there’s no way I would have let her do that if there’s been any birds on the lake.
She loved it all, the crunchy icy grass and the frosty mud, frozen with the patterns of bike tracks, animal prints and footprints.
And once we were out of the woods, she either skipped along (always a sign she’s happy) or held my arm and told me about her day.
It was nice. She’s had an angst-ridden moment or too this evening but the happy D on the way home has more than compensated. Hopefully we’ll have another one tomorrow before the frosts disappear for a while and the rain returns.
10 Comments
Catie: Imperfect Mum on 27th January 2016 at 1:05 pm.
It is worth everything that relaxed anxiety free moment. Let’s hope there are many more walks through the woods.
Jeannette on 3rd February 2016 at 11:05 am.
Me too, yippee for no rain so far this week. The more relaxed walk is certainly helping 🙂
over40andamumtoone on 27th January 2016 at 8:37 pm.
Fingers crossed for another relaxed walk tomorrow for you both
Jeannette on 3rd February 2016 at 11:04 am.
Thanks, we’ve had some great stone plopping walks home this week 🙂
Susan Mann on 28th January 2016 at 3:01 pm.
Fingers crossed this helps and it relaxed. Hugs xx
Jeannette on 3rd February 2016 at 11:04 am.
Thanks, it definitely helped her 🙂
Caroline Elliott on 31st January 2016 at 7:46 am.
Aww lovely that it relaxed her so well. Shame the frosts have been so fleeting! Xx
Jeannette on 3rd February 2016 at 11:03 am.
It was fab to see her happy X
Jane - Our Little Escapades on 2nd February 2016 at 12:21 pm.
I’m so glad you had an easier walk home. I hope the rain has stayed away enough for you so that it has continued x
Jeannette on 3rd February 2016 at 11:03 am.
We’ve had some lovely walks home this week, lots of “plops” as the stones fall in and a much happier girl. It now seems to be part of our routine home 😉 X