Friday 2nd August 2013.
6 months since our baby daughter died.
6 months since we lost Matilda Mae.
6 months since the world as we knew it completely fell apart.
So much has happened since Baby Tilda died.
So much has not happened.
It is such a long time.
Yet no time at all.
6 long months in the blink of an eye.
Some days are bearable
Or at least are manageable
Every day is painful
Every thought and action hurts
Every ray of sunshine
Comes with a heavy rain cloud
Sunshine and showers
Without the rainbow!
Many days the intensity of grief can take you by surprise
Combined with toddler wants, needs and tantrums
Sometimes just getting through a day is truly truly tough
And when the going gets tough?
We get out the Tuff Spot!
It may sound like a silly thing to do.
But play is important to us.
To all of us.
And playing with the right tools and materials.
The right attitude.
Can be incredibly therapeutic.
We are big fans of process art in our house.
It does not matter what you make
It is the making, the doing, the painting that is important.
Esther and William love to paint.
So when the fighting becomes too frequent, the squabbles to stressful
And we all need some time
A release.
We get out the Tuff Spot
To get us out of a tough spot.
And I’d say 9 times out of 10 it works.
We do not very much painting.
Compared to water play and general being outside play
We should paint more.
I have a bit of a problem though …
On this tough day I got the Tuff Spot out, some paints and lots of different painting tools.
Sponges, brushes, stampers and rollers.
Everything that we had.
We chose a spot in the garden and got to work.
To play!
We each had some paper to paint on. Esther and William experimented with different tools and colours.
I decided to paint butterflies using the old folded paper technique.
Esther and William liked them very much and both decided to have a go.
We had varying levels of success and lots of fun.
Esther and William soon returned to making random experimental marks. They were really focused on what they were doing, chatting away and enjoying getting messy in the garden.
As they made their marks I tried to add to them to make their abstract art into something real. Train and track is always a favourite request!
We actually made some rather lovely pictures together.
But then this happened!
Honestly, my children just embrace messy play and I love that they do, but I dare not take them anywhere!!
They had such a wonderful time painting themselves and each other with rollers, stampers, brushes, sponges and just their bare hands.
They squelched in the paint, slid in it, stomped on it, splashed in it like a puddle.
They had such such fun!
And they made a glorious mess!
And it warmed my heart.
It used up their energy
Focused their minds
And made them laugh and play together.
No tears
No tantrums
Then this …
Which I am certain is the equivalent of a spa day when you are three!
Don’t you think?
This is what we do when we need to let off steam.
When we need a way out of a tough spot
We get the Tuff Spot out!
I would love to know what messy play you have been up to.
This post marks the start of Messy Play for Matilda Mae.
A weekly Saturday link up for all your messy and sensory play posts.
Please do come and join us for messy, sensory fun.
lovely to see them having so much fun! we have been doing something similar yesterday, I will link it up 🙂
Many hugs to you for your loss. I can’t even begin to imagine. No words.
I love your way with words, and you’ve inspired me to let my little one get more messy.
It’s back! I didn’t know. I haven’t done any messy play with the house move but now it’s given me the kick I need to start again. Will try and do something on Sunday if I can. Much love to you tonight, and always xx
This looks like lots of fun! I have been very rubbish with messy play recently hopefully this will give me the kick up the bum to do some again! x
My 4yo always ends up covered in paint too! It’s generally straight in the shower for him once were done 🙂 Lovely to see E&W enjoy getting all painty!
We have been so inspired by your Messy Play for Matilda Mae and will be reading and trying out your ideas. Our tuff spot arrived this week & we have been playing with shaving foam which my 2 year old enjoyed. She enjoyed drawing shapes with her finger in particular.
They looked like they were having so much fun, even when getting cleaned up after!