Valentine’s Sensory Box: In Memory of Matilda Mae

Tomorrow is St Valentine’s Day.

Though I am missing Matilda more than any words can say I am also trying to make the world a better and safer place for Esther and William.

I am their mummy too.

On the day that Matilda died we had a lovely day.

It was a bitterly cold day and we had planned to go to a lovely play park and woods near where we lived but it was just too cold so instead we went bargain hunting at Asda. As you do!

I bought all I needed to make St Valentine’s Day special for my brood.

Esther, William and Matilda all like being in a shopping trolley and love all the noise and colours of a busy store.

With the promise of presents a shopping trip actually becomes good fun.

We bought a whole host of items to put together to make our Valentine Sensory Box.

Two of everything of course, to stop fights between Esther and William.

Two shiny red heart shaped balloons, two soft pink and red flowers, rose petals, sweet smelling apple and spice pot pourri, two tiny teddies with big red hearts, battery operated heart shaped fairy lights, soft rubber heart shaped moulds to fill with the different materials, red and pink ribbons, red and pink stars and some shiny heart confetti.

In Memory of Our Last Day with Matilda Mae

This has been in our playroom since that fateful day but I have not had the heart to explain to Esther and William why.

Tomorrow though I will tell them that it is St Valentine’s Day and we will explore the sensory box (or bucket!) together after tea and before the bath. I will also remind them of the fun we had that day with our beautiful Baby Tilda. We have been talking about her more and more in the last couple of days.

We are also going to have some Valentine’s Day water play tomorrow.

I am going to use heart shaped chocolate moulds to make red heart shaped ice cubes and we are going to fish them out of the water table with our new fishing nets before they melt and turn all the water red.

Ice Hearts

I hope that these activities will help us all to smile on this day of love as we try to get on with every day things with the greatest of holes in our hearts.

Happy Valentine’s Day Matilda Mae.

We love you x

Miss You Miss Matilda Mae

9 thoughts on “Valentine’s Sensory Box: In Memory of Matilda Mae”

What a beautiful sentiment. It can only be a good thing that you are already managing to talk and write about your gorgeous girl despite your terrible sadness. Although we do not know each-other my thoughts continue to be with you. Keep on writing and sharing while it helps. ‘Happy’ Valentine’s Day to you all x

Oh Jennie, I am just wincing with pain at seeing you go through each stumbling step of this. The carrying on is just ball breaking. I was so frightened I would not be able to live well enough to make up to Freddie that his life was gone. So much pressure we put ourselves under to try to make it right.

It sort of helps to see another travelling an identical path of feelings. It felt so wrong at the time but seeing you now, I know I ‘did it right’ and all the steps were normal and necessary. I wish you had never had I tread them though.

The sensory boxes look lovely and I hope the twins will have a lot of fun. I wish I had been so organised, but you have inspired me so I will go and see what I can put together in my usual haphazard, last-minute way. I’m glad you are able to talk about Matilda Mae with the twins, and I hope the sensory boxes will help with that too x

Beautiful. I love the idea of the ice cubes and the fishing net. We had valentines water play this week and added pink and red foam heart and glitter, messy but fun. E & W will enjoy this xx

Jennie you continue to amaze me. As I said in my post I really will be thinking of you today. I Iove the activity you have lined up for the twins and I hope it brings you a little fun and happiness together even though Matilda Mae will still be weighing on your mind at every turn.