But why can’t I go with the boys? sniffed my little girl, as her brothers left for a day out with their dad. She stood for a moment, watching them go, with a dejected set to her shoulders. Then, in the way that only small children can, she shrugged, turned to me and asked, can we go and play in the leaves please mummy?
I looked at her eager face, eyes bright and excited; of course we can sweetheart.
It was a perfect fall day. The sky was blue and the ground covered in a blanket of crunchy leaves. Welly boots on, rake in hand, I followed the sound of laughter into the garden.
There is something so wonderfully cheerful about playing in leaves. Kicking them, crunching them, throwing them. It is impossible not to smile as you watch your child leaping and laughing, showering themselves in leaves.
Make a pile mummy, I want to jump!
And so I made a pile, then another pile, then a bigger pile!
My daughter throws herself into activities with such abandon; she can find joy in the smallest of things. Watching her teaches me so much.
Last year an ordinary moment playing in the leaves gave me a much needed jolt of perspective; a realisation that it is these simple moments with my children that really matter.
Of course, that clarity gets clouded on a regular basis by, well, life!
But, as I raked the leaves back in to a pile, for the umpteenth time and my little girl jumped fearlessly into them, her laughter was infectious. It was a moment that mattered.
Enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things. Kurt Vonnegut
I recently made a decision to let go of some of my self-imposed obligations. To cut back on the to-do list. To let things go.
And do more of this.
Best decision ever.
Sharing this post with Country Kids and Savouring the Season.
These simple moments are just the best aren’t they? Love the photos of your wee girl having so much fun in the leaves – especially those of her throwing the leaves in the air. Such fabulous captures of the pure joy of childhood and how wonderful it is to see those moments through our children’s eyes :-)
They really are Louise, it is so wonderful to take a moment and see the world through their eyes x
I need to take a leaf out of your book (no pun intended)! Life has a habit of getting in the way and yet time spent like this is the time we remember, not racing through the self imposed to do list. Gorgeous photos of a beautiful moment in time together. Thank you for the wake up call to me and for sharing your wonderful photos on Country Kids.
That’s the thing, isn’t it? So much of it is self-imposed. We just need to let it go. Life does have a habit of getting in the way, it’s good to take a step back every so often x
What fabulous photos. She was obviously having so much fun. We had a few leaves here but not enough to make a decent pile to jump in. N didn’t seem keen to be properly playing in them, but he enjoyed examining them instead.
We’ve done lots of collecting too, although I am as guilty of that as the kids :)
Wow, I am jealous you have a tree or trees big enough to drop that many leaves. I remember when I became a stay-at-home mom I had to make the decision to not worry about getting everything done. I tend to over do things and I wanted to enjoy life with my kids. One of my best decisions as well.
You might not be if you had to rake them up :) It’s amazing fun for the kids though, they don’t even mind helping clear them as they get to play in them too! Letting go of some of the self-imposed to-do list is liberating x
Our yard just looked like that a few days ago and we definitely went out to jump in the leaves. Even with the disputes about who kicked who in the face (and someone else yelling, “I did not! You kicked ME in the face!” under the leaf pile, it was still a fun day.
Playing in the leaves is fun, although it was quite nice to have a solo event this time :)
Amazing. I love how kids can make simple things so magical. And autumn leaves are the best – the smell always reminds me of being a kid myself #CountryKids
Absolutely, you forget how much simple things can amaze them x
Now that is certainly fun! I wouldn’t mind doing that too. Now if only we had that much leaves in our garden ;) #countrykids.
You can have some of ours! We have plenty…
We visited Bath over the weekend and there were huge piles of leaves gathered up ready to picked up and tidied away in Victoria park.My girls begged me to let them kicking them to smithereens and I relented as it was opportunity to see them play after arguing the whole way there.I do think we have to see things from their point of view more often and be a bit rebellious.
Absolutely :) We have so many leaves that need to be gathered and bagged up that it’s really easy to get huge piles together for them to play in!
Great photos! #CountryKids
Thank you x
I love this!! It really is the simple things they remember and I love taking the time to just enjoy them with my girls too. She’s so cute, love that one of just her head poking out….so cute x
It was such a lot of fun, she was having the best time. Lovely to just stop and enjoy it x
That says it all! I really enjoy days like this – hearing kids giggle as they get covered in mud. Lovely photos too. Sarah #countrykids
Absolutely, makes for the best fun :)
That looks like SO much fun! You have soo many leaves, it would be a shame not to throw them, kick them and jump in them…What a lovely time together :) #savouringtheseason
It was a lot of fun, and yes we have a lot of leaves :)
Oh wow, that looks like so much fun, she looks so happy. Playing in leaves is a wonderful activity and she totally embraced it! Simple things are usually the best!
She really did embrace it, she had such a good time. It was wonderful to watch x
Playing in leaves is one of my girls favourite things to do too… Plus it makes for awesome photos!! Thanks for linking up with #SavouringtheSeason
It does make for good photos :) It’s amazing how long a pile of leaves can keep them entertained!
Wow that looks like SO much fun! Also, how many leaves? Don’t think I’ve seen a garden with so many! Good for you cutting down on the To Do list.
#CountryKids
We have A LOT of leaves! Lot of work to rake them all up, but great fun for the kids to play in :)
Ah I love the gorgeous look of pure joy on her face – she is so happy! Jumping in leaves was one of my favourite autumnal past times too as a kid, there is nothing better than piling a huge pile of leaves and jumping in :) and kicking them, and throwing them in the air :) #countrykids
She had the best time, it was wonderful to watch. Such simple fun x
Those photos are fantastic! She looks so happy. Good luck with the refocusing – hope it all goes well
Thank you very much. The refocusing is going well so far x
Love this post Sara, and I have always loved kicking up autumn leaves! Gorgeous photos of your girgeous girl having so so much fun, just lovely. Simple fun really is the best :) xx
Thank you Caroline, it’s important to make time for these simple moments. So much fun to be had :)