We’ve been before when you were younger but today was just amazing. A first for the level of your interaction and watchfulness and awareness of other kids and yourself as one of them, and of your ability to explore and enjoy in a self-directed way. It was just beautiful for me to watch.

Actually, when we first arrived you were scared by all the noise and boisterousness of everything and you had a bit of a cry, but after a snuggle and a play around near me you got more adventurous. And half-an-hour later and there was no stopping you.

You crawled about the entire room, looking up at all the big kids and attempting to imitate them in their climbing. You found the slope on one of the displays very difficult to crawl up, but once you got up there once, you went back and forth at least 50 times (no exaggeration) just proving you had mastered it and could scoot up and down however and whenever you liked. And I learned that you can climb up stairs. You got used to the noise and watched in absolute amazement at the guitar-playing, funny harmonica noises and the foot macaroon-playing at close range.

too fast for the camera!

Too fast for mum to catch on film... crawling.. Note the ramp in the background. That was a small challenge that you persisted with and overcame..

And as usual, you attracted the attention of other children with at least three little girls befriending you and smothering you in kisses. Mostly until you cried. There were a few years older than you and it did get a bit stifling. But you seem to be learning to crawl away from what you don’t like, and seek out what you do.

And I just loved watching you experience it all. Magic.

Love you
kisses
mum

climbing the stairs - That's you in the background in the blue outfit. I have to drop the camera and run...

Related posts on My-Speck you might also like to read:

1. 

   Today was your first day at childcare. And I cried again. :)
2. 

   Taxes and the Library
3. 

   Christmas cooking (with kids): gingerman bread

So. Your Aunt Reegan has been busy looking for a job now that I’m all mobile again (boot is allowed to come off for a few hours to suit my level of discomfort a day now -WOO HOO!). And one of her primary complaints has been that moving back to Australia & looking for a job really isn’t great as the tax we pay here is so high compared to Japan. So even if she gets a job paying more than her salary in Japan, she gets to keep less. I keep telling her how wonderful the government here in Australia actually is (sarcasm). I then encourage her to write to her local MP, councillor, senator etc whenever something comes up that she feels strongly about. Email is the way to go. And it’s easy. I think I write to the government about something I care about at least once a week. Helps me vent and keeps me sane. Latest was the proposed changes to Youth Allowance (or whatever it’s called now – the money you get to help you live while you’re studying) – i.e. it’s not enough & we’re trying to be an educated nation yet don’t help students from non-priveleged backgrounds enough to keep them from the poverty line while they are trying to get a degree… Rant aside, what I do keep telling her is that the government here does provide some resources to the public, and since we live in the inner-city, it’s worthwhile taking advantage of whatever you can get hold of. She ums and ahs and then just grumbles at me. But, two weeks ago we went down to the new State Library building. Walking into it, with its lovely plush couches and air-conditioning, and free wi-fi and banks of computers, she said, “and this is why we pay taxes in Australia. Japan has NOTHING like this”. It’s great. And there is a kid’s corner just waiting for you to enjoy as you grow up. Just down the road from the free water-park for kiddies.

This morning, you and I again went in the car, and down to the State Library kid’s corner for “Rhyme Time”. A few shots which don’t quite capture the manic atmosphere: think about 50 children of all ages in a brightly decorated room about 4 x 10 m, all shrieking, squealing, talking and singing along to the rhymes done by the librarians. Crazy. And a pram convention just near the room.

Poogie rocking on to the rhyme time

You enjoyed yourself.  The first time we took you two weeks ago I think it was all just a little too overwhelming.  Today you did some singing on my lap, and were happy being up on some benches high above most of the other kids, so you could watch and be secure with me.   After a bit of singing we went and you laid on the carpet and did some rolling around.  There are all sorts of exciting things hanging from the roof so you got distracted by that a bit.  There were a few other kids who seemed interested in you and came over to give you some touches and a bit of a ‘hello’.  You were pretty keen on the little boy who seemed to like rubbing his hair in your face.  And you are astounded at the noise and interaction with so many other children.  Crazy – I could almost see you thinking.  What are they all doing, and why are they so loud??

a snapshot of the chaos. It just doesn't quite translate in a photo.

After about an hour, you were starting to get tired and over-it. You enjoyed the stimulation, but it just got a bit much. So off we went, home again.

You’re getting so big so quickly, I look at the kids in the room and think you’ll be in school before I can blink. I’m pondering how if ever I’ll be able to balance you and work and study and life.

A good morning. You’re a cutie and I love you.

kisses
mum

Related posts on My-Speck you might also like to read:

1. 

   I nearly cried today.
2. 

   Saturday morning breakfast…
3. 

   Announcing the new arrivals at our house: Chicken 1 and Chicken 2