Alone day

Equal time with Nanny and Poppy, that’s what she wanted. Our eldest granddaughter, in Grade One now, doesn’t have time alone with us like her younger sister does. So recently, my husband and I collected Sylvie after school to spend a few hours alone with her.

At the bulk food store, we bought peanuts to feed the squirrels 

and blue jays along the boardwalk. It’s one of our usual activities which she really enjoys.

There had been torrential rains the night before and the longest thunderstorm we had ever experienced. As a result, the water in the stream which empties into the harbour was high and muddy from the run-off. 

“Oh look, muddy cuddles,” I said to Sylvie as we stood on the gazebo and looked into the water below. As a two year old, Sylvie loved Peppa Pig and the muddy puddles where Peppa splashed around. In Sylvie’s two year old vocabulary, muddy puddles became muddy cuddles. Now the phrase is a part of family vernacular. 

We watched as a yellowlegs foraged for food along the island in the stream. He seemed to disappear into the background and it was fun trying to spot him.

Back at home, arts and crafts filled the time until supper. Sylvie can spend hours at them, especially when you show interest in or work at them with her.

We finished the day with her favourite meal as we chatted about school and the million other topics her active mind conceives and which she voices almost non-stop. 

She paused briefly and asked, "When is the next alone day?"