Imagine what it feels like to see the world, & every little thing around you, with fresh eyes; every single day.
To embrace each day like it promises to be one great big grand adventure! If you are going on 2, this is an everyday occurrence!
Recently, I was invited to spend such a day with a precious little Sweet Pea. She is the granddaughter of a very dear friend of mine, and the daughter to a wonderful young mom who holds a very special place in my heart. Because Nana lives far away, every now & again I am called upon to be a stand in Nana.
Of course, I am only too happy to oblige.
When seeing the world through a 2 year old’s eyes, you are reminded of what it feels like to explore & to play! From the moment you open your eyes, the adventure begins. There is delight in every little thing!
While making some attempt at taming her adorable wispy locks flowing freely every which way on her head, Sweet Pea chattered away excitedly, pointing out everything in sight. Her books, her bears, her new bed, the suitcase that is packed because she is going to visit Nana very soon. It was if everything had magically floated into her room & she was seeing it all for the very first time.
After donning a fresh diaper & some clothes, I asked her if she would like to go outside for a walk. One would have thought I had just offered to transport her to some exotic place in a land far, far away. Grabbing for my hand to assist her down the stairs, she jibbered away in some animated foreign language only known to 2 years olds.
As I struggled to slip on her sparkly little red Vans, she echoed my grunting, as if offering me encouragement to succeed in getting them on her feet.
After a round of victorious shouts when her tiny little feet finally made their way in, she stood silently & without protest as we lathered her up with sunscreen.
Donning her sun hat & plopping her into her stroller, she patiently waited while I attempted to figure out the elaborate seatbelt system to secure her little self in place. Realising that I had forgotten something she announced, GASSES!! Right, even I got that one…glasses!
Sunglasses now in place, we packed up our snacks & our juice & we made our way to the park. Along the way, we were greeted with a cornucopia of sightings. Cars, birds, bugs, sand, grass, all miraculously appearing before our very eyes.
As the park came into view, once again, Sweet Pea was elated as she waited to be unleashed in to the new enchanted land before her.
Just look at that magnificent tree!
Giggling like the little girls that we were, we happily stretched our toes high to the sky on the swing set, intermittently belting out rounds of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Oh look, a beautiful flower!
Moving to the slide area, we found a spellbinding pile of woodchips, just beckoning for us to dig in them.
Holding our flowers in one hand, helps to balance us out when digging.
What better place to do some building than the surface of a slide!
Such concentration!
Giggling with dizziness from running around a pole soon causes all of your troubles to just swirl away in the air!
So, the next time you are feeling a little melancholy or perhaps a little jaded about the world, I would highly recommend a good dose of Going On 2 therapy! You will most likely find yourself exhausted by the end of your therapy session, but it is worth the exertion to be reminded of the magical world in which we live.
Thank you, Sweet Pea, for so willingly sharing your love & your contagious enthusiasm. Seeing the world through your eyes is soothing to my soul. ♥
Love & Kisses,
Your stand in Nana♥
Life After 50 
The world is an amazing place, especially through the eyes of a two year old.Sounds like a marvelous, albeit exhausting, day. 🙂
I must confess Sue. After lunch, we climbed up into her new bed for a little quiet time. After reading a few stories, I may have fallen asleep for a wee catnap…just sayin!
I love cat naps 🙂
I think some Going on 2 Therapy is in order after supper. Sweet reminder. 🙂
Thanks Robyn! Enjoy your therapy session:)
So wonderful to see a small child’s fascination wuth the world. Love the tree photo – she’s so little and the tree is so big and yet she will someday have the power to determine that tree’s life. Thanks for the post – it was great!
The tree photo is my favourite as well Paul. What a great point about her generation making decisions about our beautiful old trees. I hadn’t thought of that, but you are so right.
There is always something extraordinary to be found in what we too often see as ordinary. We just need the wisdom of a two year old to point it out for us sometimes. I remember the days when woodchips were more than pieces of mulch. It was pirate currency. I remember when a metal pole was more than a support arch for the swing. It was a fireman’s pole used to set forth on a mission to rescue the stranded kitty. Thanks for taking me back on such a youthful journey. We should all be so fortunate to visit these magical lands more often 😉
“There is always something extraordinary to be found in what we too often see as ordinary.” Dave, you never cease to inspire me through your words. Thank you for visiting today & sharing. I truly appreciate it!
Children remind us of all the wonderful things surrounding us that we take for granted. It is both exhilerating and exhausting 🙂
It sure is Joanne! They are so funny to watch as they process all the tiny little things that are new to them. It was fun to spend the day with this wee one!
I’m so in love…can I rent her for the day? She’s like a little Diane Keaton from the back in her hat and leggins. Such a lovely essay Lynn…thanks for sending it to me…hopefully more people will read it on my site too 🙂
She is simply adorable Susannah! “Diane Keaton”… I love it! I will be sure to tell her mama that one!