The Fairy Garden – A Lesson for Nana

I am Nana to a precious 2 year old little girl named Ellie!  This weekend, my daughter and son in law are moving into a new house so Ellie is staying with me.  We have spent lots of time playing and pretending and just generally having a great time. 

I have recently been fascinated by fairy gardens so decided to make a small one for her for when she visits.  Being as young as she is I knew she wouldn’t really understand the concept but I figured it would be fun to start now so it could “grow” with her.  I started very simply with a little fairy house I bought at a craft fair and set it up with rocks and stones I have at my house.  I created a cute little pond with the blue stones and a walkway with the brown stones.  Then there is a cute little crystal yard.  Each night, the fairies leave some sort of treasure in the house such as a colorful bead, a small pine cone, etc.  Also – my idea is that when Ellie and I are on treasure hunts, she can find little items to bring back and put in it for the fairies.  Here is a picture:

I was so proud of this fairy garden – (wait – WHO is this fairy garden for...?)

So along comes Ellie and she sees it and, as expected thinks it is BOO-TEE-FOOL!  Then she promptly starts taking it apart and playing with all of the rocks. “Oooooh – this one is soooo pwetty!”  “Ooooh, this one is so smooove”! The little fairy house is moved into the sitting room and the rocks are put into the little bird bath and then taken back out and put into the back of her little toy car. 

At first, I wanted to show her the “proper” way to enjoy the fairy house = MY VISION – as stated above, but then, luckily, a more rational part of my brain (my inner child?) took over and said STOP – this precious, creative little being is enjoying the heck out of her fairy house in the magical way of a two year old – no SHOULDS!  Why “should” the blue rocks of the “pond” have to all be together?  Mix em up, let the pond flow inside the house.  And who cares if the perfect little walkway to the house is mixed up with the crystals of the yard.  C’mon Nana – lighten up! 

This really is a bigger life lesson, isn’t it?  When I let go of how I think things should be – life is usually more fun – more free and I feel lighter and enjoy the flow all the more.  

Of course, even two year olds need to learn some lessons about certain things that can and cannot be played with, etc. – such as my collection of glassware – but that is not the point of this post.  The fairy garden is hers to play with and there is nothing she can break so there is no reason she can’t enjoy it in her own creative way.  After we are done playing with it the way she wants, we do put it back together all ready for next time.

If you have children, grandchildren or other young ones in your life, what ways have they helped you reconnect with your inner child and mix up the fairy gardens of your life?

I hear her stirring in her bed –  time to get her up and see what adventures await!