Playgroup

Expectations. Perspective. Attitude.

I have learned through Coraline that living our life joyfully with her comes back to these three things.

Preschool finished up for the holidays yesterday. So we went to @squidandthekid playgroup this morning. Huge shout out to them for setting up this playgroup for us all and for their awesome shop in Topsham too. They have a sensory tent and sensory toys at the group (Coraline is pictured here in front of it today!)

Coraline and I turned up this morning, with a couple of her musical books and her favourite snacks which I knew would anchor her. My expectation was just to be there, and for us to sit on the side. For me, the fact we were in a different environment and that other children were around and that there were different toys (whether she interacted with any of it or not) was great. It meant we were doing something for Coraline today outside of a walk in the pram and sitting with toys at home. This is what we often do as she is not developmentally ready for, or engaging at all in, crafts or Easter trails or amusement parks. For the first 40 minutes or so we sat on the sidelines.

Patience. I have learned this from Coraline. She pressed the buttons in her books, and climbed on me. I chatted to a few lovely and friendly parents. Coraline did keep handing me her coat, but I trusted my instinct in knowing her as her mother. She does not speak so I honoured her communication and showed her the Makaton sign that Kevin and I use with her to tell her, “yes, next, later, we will go”. We would have left if I felt she was at the point she needed to. But Coraline is now accustomed to noise and bustle from preschool so I felt we could stay.

About 40 minutes in Coraline took my hand and led me across the room. She is not yet walking independently but she can do steps across a room holding onto a hand. She led me across the hall, and into another room. This was huge! We ended up in the sensory tent and she loved looking at the toys in there. She then made the same route back to where we had been originally. Then the group finished. It was hometime.

I was so proud of those steps we took