New!

It was Hogmanay and everyone was getting prepared for the party. Mum was making sure there was plenty of food ready for the evening. Dad was just making sure there were plenty of drinks in the fridge. Even the neighbor babysitter Liz was helping and hoovering before the party.

They all seemed to be really exited, well most were except auntie Jean.

“Are you alight auntie” asked a concerned Mary with a frown.

“Oh yes luv I'm fine, why do you ask?

“You don't seem to be as exited, can you not decide on your resolution for the new year?”

“Oh Mary, well, sort of. You see you don't have to choose one, you could have many. But I don't keep my resolutions just to the new year.” said auntie Jean

“I don't understand” replied Mary even more confused.

“Don't worry Mary, its just that I don't need a new year to try new things or give up other things. Everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to do something new or let go of something.”

“Oh, so you could try something new any day, or everyday?”

“Yes, why limit yourself to one day, when everyday has the same possibility’s.

Mary's head was filled with many many ideas, she started to list them off to auntie Jean.

“Calm down Mary, you don't need to do them all at once, remember everyday is an opportunity, you have three hundred and sixty five in a year, that’s just one year, think how much you can get if you chose to try just one a day? Although it might be best to note them down so you don't forget them and you could tick them off as you go.” Suggested auntie Jean.

With that Mary was already half way across the room to pick up her paper and crayons to draw up a master plan for the new year, day, month before the party got started.

©joannehepburn

Behave

"Go and sit on the stairs and think about what you have done."

Mary didn’t like this. 

She was told to sit on the step again!

She wasn’t even sure what she had done.

She tried to think.

She was playing with a ball, mum said not in the house, so she found a smaller ball.

Mum asked her to take it outside so nothing would get broken.

Mary didn’t like that suggestion so she threw the ball down, to which it bounced and smashed a picture frame!

Mum stood up and marched Mary away and tell her why she had done it and the reasons why she had done it.

Mary thought, and thought some more.  She threw the ball because she was annoyed and she was bored, but she couldn’t have known what the ball was going to do!

But she did throw it a bit hard, and with a bit more strength than she should have done.

Should she have thrown it at all???

No she shouldn't have.

Now Mary knew what she had done, and she could see why mum got angry.

Mum came out to the corridor to join Mary on the step.

“Have you thought about what just happened Mary? “ Asked Mum.

“Yes” said Mary very quietly.

“OK, why was it wrong?” asked mum.

“I threw the ball too hard.” Said Mary.

“Its not just that Mary you know not to throw anything indoors, its not a playing field. You could’ve hurt Joe or me or yourself! Said mum its not just you in the room and its not just your items, they are everyone’s, and you need to remember everyone has the right to their items and their space too.”

“I know” said Mary.

“What will you do next time?” asked mum.

“I’ll take the ball outside or I’ll draw with my pencils.”

“Would you like to go into the lounge and draw something now?”

Mary was quiet and looked down

“Its alright, Mary, but only if you know why I was angry and know why I won't let you to do it again”.

“You don’t want me to throw things about as things get broken and people could get hurt?” said Mary hoping that was right.

“Yes Mary, now doesn’t that sound sensible?”

“Yes “ replied Mary while shuffling her feet.

“Good let go back inside and see if we can get some beautiful pictures drawn for the kitchen wall”.

©joannehepburn 

What a mess!

"What a mess!"  Mum was very cross, "My word Mary you better get this back nice and tidy very soon." with the dreaded look.

It was so messy, there was so much stuff, it was in such a state.

Mary thought she had better get started.

 But where to begin?  

There was so much STUFF!  There was clothes, toys, crayons, pencils, shoes and so much more and it was all everywhere. 

Mary sat on the bed to think, she needed  to come up with a plan, and a really good one.

Thinking wasn’t getting anything done so let’s start small.

Mary folded up the pajamas that had been thrown across her bed.  Now she could see what a mess the covers were in so Mary decided to make the bed too, now she had a clear surface to work from.

Mary picked up all of her dirty socks and popped them into the wash basket.  Since she was there Mary thought she better pick up all of her clothes that were lying in odd locations over her floor hanging out of drawers a top even crumpled in the corner.  Mary took them all, and put them in the laundry bin to help mum to easily find and wash.

Next time to put all of the drawing things away into her desk, the paper, pens, paints, crayons and crafty bits, not just thrown in, but put back into their boxes and drawers properly.

Once that was done and not getting distracted, time for  all of the toys back onto their shelves, not shoved into the corner but back in the order and in the places they all should be.

The carpet was almost clear, just a bit more to do, hair brushes, hair ties and clips were found and put back into the fancy box beside the mirror.

WOW!   That's much better thought Mary.  There was so much free space, she could create loads of new games now.

That didn’t take long at all thought Mary, but now she could understand why Mum got so angry about the mess.  Its not very helpful, and could be very dangerous for everyone and the toys, they could get broken.

Mum came into Mary’s room as soon as she opened the door there was a big smile on her face.

“Thats fantastic, oh my goodness what a transformation, is this the same room?” Asked mum with a giggle.

“Yes its still my room,” replied Mary in a little panic.

“Well it looks like a really good room ready for lots of new adventures,” replied mum with a big grin and a even bigger hug.

“Thank you for tidying up your room for me, it looks brilliant.  Now how does going downstairs and enjoy some of grannies scones and jam sound? Teased mum.

“That sounds perfect too”, said Mary with a cheeky grin.

22.05.16

©joannehepburn

Present wrapping

Reams of plain paper, patterned paper, tissue paper, ribbon, fancy stick-on bows and sticky tape were strewn across the floor.

It was not usually this bad for birthdays or anniversary's or surprise’s but for Christmas there was so much fun, and so many gifts the room got lost in the excitement.

Mary looked around the room confused.

“What’s up Mary?” Asked mum, concerned when she saw Mary's face.

“Erm, how do people do this?” she asked.

“What do you mean?" Asked mum. “How do they find the time to wrap the presents?”

“No, well, yes, but how do they find the time to buy them, and the time to makethe money and the time then wrap them too?”

“I'm going to need to earn lots of money, but without working to much or I'll miss playtime, but I wont be able to do the same when I grow up.”

“Oh Mary, don't be worrying about that. The presents do not need to be expensive, they can just be an item you think the person would like, or something you both saw in a shop window and they commented on it and you remembered, or a picture of their favorite place or animal or memory.  

You could make them some tasty treats like the cake like I always bake for auntie Lol. 

Presents do not need to be expensive to mean a lot to the person, its the thought behind them matters. 

That's the whole point of Christmas is to give to people less fortunate.

That should go for any time of year too, it should never be solely about the gift and how much it costs. 

Its about how much it is needed and how much joy it will bring to its owner, not the cost. 

its all about the time and the thought that goes into finding or making the perfect gift, the love and the joy of the person receiving it.

That’s what matters and that is what is remembered far longer than and passing items in the adverts on TV. What makes the difference is the time, the thought and the love always.

And with that mum got up and gave Mary a big squishy hug with a big smile to match the one on Mary's face. 

Mary knew the gifts were going to be perfect they had been chosen and made with such care, that was going to make for a super Christmas.

©joannehepburn 

Dads day off

Mary got up as usual but she could smell something yummy happening in the kitchen.

Curious Mary had to investigate. She found dad happily singing away making pancakes of all things.

“Good morning Mary” greeted dad, with a massive smile as she put pancakes on a plate ready to be covered in fruit salad (Mary’s favorite, it tasted like sweets).

“Morning” replied a sleepy Mary with a dopey smile eagerly eating.

“What are we going to do today?” asked dad.

“Erm I don’t know what are you doing today” replied a confused Mary.

“Well I have a day off so what do you want to do that you normally don’t get a chance to?” asked dad.

Oh my goodness thought Mary, so many choices. “You could help me finish building my tree house, or we could build a fort, oh or we could paint some pictures for mum and Joe?” gushed Mary at a ridiculous rate.

“OK how about we try to do them all.” Said dad, Where will we start?”

“With the tree house” said mary and with that she finished her breakfast and put on her wellies.

Mary turned into the director ordering her dad to put certain branches at certain angles. After all of the heavy things had been put in place she helped move the rest and get the roof secure.

“that was a good mornings work,” said dad

How about some tea?” asked Mary as she handed him a cup, “you are my first customer, I hope you like it.”

“Oh wow this tea is excellent” said dad playing along, “but do you know what would make it better? A cookie.”

“Oh dear I don’t have any said a disappointed Mary.

“We could make some, I know its not in your schedule but I’m sure there is time.”

And with that they left the tree house and headed back to the house for cookies.

Mary found the recipe book mum always used and found her favorite recipe (she had marked it so she knew what mum was making) "here is is dad” she advised.

“OK, lets se if I remember how to do this” he said with a wink.

He measured out all of the ingredients separately. “That’s not how mum does it” said Mary.

“Oh, oh dear well well keep going and see what happens,” said dad as he followed the instructions and put the cookies into the oven.

“Now we have 20 minutes to build a fort so we can enjoy our cookies while drawing and watching cartoons.”

“I’m on it” exclaimed Mary as she jumped up in search of the blankets and cushions required.

She took all of the throws, cushions and rugs to the corner of the room beside the sofa, now the fort building commenced. Just as she put the last cushion in the corner of the fort the buzzer of the over went off.

Cookies are ready, but they’re really hot, why don’t we draw some pictures for mum and joe? The cookies should be cold enough to eat after that.

Mary looked out her crayons and got to work.

Both Mary and Dad headed to the fort to sit down and watch some cartoons.

“hello, we’re home” said mum. No response that’s odd, she opened the sitting room door to find both Mary and dad asleep in the fort with a tray of cookies on the kitchen counter.

“hello”, said mum a lot softer but a lot closer.

Hello said dad how was your day?

Busy but not as fun as yours mum replied.

Lessons

Growth + change = life!  

Why do we have to grow up so fast? 

New shoes, new clothes, new places, why can’t everything stay the same? 

Well the world is a strange place.  

Everything changes as it grows, just as we change and grow, learn and develop.

We can’t always be the same.  

How boring would that be?  

We have to grow up, we decide what we are going to do, how and  when we get there too.  

There is so much to learn, so much to understand or not. 

How do we ever get by in life?  If we don’t grow?  if we don’t change? Will we stay the same? 

Does the world will simply pass us by?  

This is very scary but we must all adapt, all change not by much but we do we develop perspective.  

We develop an opinion, we grow our own individual personality with tastes, curiosity, humour and various emotions.

 Then and only then are we truly human.

©joannehepburn

Stumpy

Mary was having a great time playing with Joe.  Running around the room playing tickle fights.  

She turned and bashed her foot right off the corner of the hallway.

“ouch!” she exclaimed “that really hurt” but she got back up and kept playing.

Mum thought it would be a good idea to go for a walk so they all got their jackets on and went for a walk to the beach.

“Are you aright Mary, you’re walking awfully slow today?”

“Yea I'm OK my foot just hurts a bit” but she kept on walking she was having too much fun playing with Jo and collecting pebbles.

It wasn't till they got home and Mary thought she better look at her sore toe.

“Oh no” she exclaimed as she took off her sock, her toe was bleeding and somehow the nail was cracked?

“Oh dear” exclaimed mum, lets fix this.

Mum cleaned up Mary’s toe then put some plasters over her split toe nail and very carefully put a nice clean socks on.

“That’s better” said Mary, "thank you," and off she went to try and tickle Joe.

“Just be careful please” warned mum looking at Joe with a smile.

Joe just giggled, "stumpy" he mumbled trying to tickle his big sister.

©joannehepburn 9/12/2015

I'm Bored!

I'm bored

Mary was bored.  It was raining outside, and it was cold.  Mary sat looking out of the window hoping for the sun to come but it didn’t.  Mary went down the stairs to see what mum and baby brother Joe were doing.

Not very much, Joe was sleeping and mum was cleaning the dishes from breakfast.

“I'm bored” stated Mary.

“Oh” said mum, “Why are you bored?  You have drawing books and pencils.” 

Mary drew for a bit but she really wanted to go outside and play.  She sat just looking out of the window.

“I'm so bored!” said Mary again.

“Oh said mum, how can you still be bored?  You have washing you could fold away.” 

Mary didn't like this idea but the weather might get better by the time she had folded all of her clean washing on her bed.   So she went upstairs to her room.

Mary finished folding her washing but when she looked out of the window.

 Oh No thought Mary.it was even wetter! 

“I'm so bored!” she yelled.

“OK” said mum “you can help me.”

Mary didn't know what else to say! 

Mary was shocked.   She just stood there open mouthed. 

Mum decided Mary was going to help dust, then sweep the kitchen floor and mop it all before lunch! 

Mary didn't like this idea.

Mum handed her a fluffy stick to go round all of the surfaces she could reach. 

Tables, cabinets, shelves and all sorts. 

Once she was done, mum took out the brush and handed it to Mary. 

Mary took it with a frown. 

She swept the floor making sure all the rubbish was gathered into a nice pile so mum could help her sweep it into the dust pan and put it in the bin.

“Excellent said mum lets mop the floor then we can have lunch.”

Mary did not like this game but she tried her best to help mum clean the floor trying to make sure there were no gaps she had missed. 

Once Mary and mum had mopped the entire floor they both stood at the door way and smiled happy with their work.

“Good job” said mum and turned to show Mary the sandwiches she had placed on the table before they had started to mop the floor.

Mary was really hungry and very happy mum had thought ahead, she didn't want to go back in the kitchen she might slip and make a mess on her nice clean floor. 

One thing was for sure, she wasn't going to tell mum she was bored ever again.

©Joanne Hepburn 27/06/2015

Babysitter

Babysitter!

Mum was getting all dressed up. 

Mary loved to join in. 

Mary loved to help mum choose what to wear. 

Then the jewellery, and jacket and shoes to match. 

But Mary loved to watch mum putting on her make-up the most.  She even got to try some sometimes too.

Mum was ready and so was dad.  They both checked they had everything. 

There was a knock at the door.

The baby sitter was here!

Would it be granny Elsie or granny Ann? Or would it be someone new?

It was Rachel!  That was odd, Rachel only lived 3 doors down. 

 Mary only knew her a little, but Mary felt rather nervous now, she didn't really want mum and dad to go to dinner.  

Mum and dad said good night and left notes with Rachel just to be safe.

They closed the door and were gone, Mary was sad.

“So what do you want to do?” asked Rachel

“I don’t know” said Mary, “what do you want to do?”

“How about we build a fort!”

“That sounds great!” Said Mary, while jumping off the sofa to find lots of cushions and blankets.

The fort started by the sofa, then by the T.V then by the dining table.

In the end they really had built a fort, it went from the kitchen door right the way through the sitting room to the hallway!  They were both very impressed with their work.

“! know what do you want to do?” Asked Rachel.

“! don’t know.” Said Mary.

“How about we draw our fort that we just made?” Suggested Rachel.

“Yea” said Mary as she went off to fetch her paper and crayons.

They drew and sketched and drew some more. 

“Would you like some juice?” asked Rachel

“I think I would” said Mary, “do you know where we keep everything?”

“I think so if not I’ll ask if you could help,” smiled Rachel.

Mary sat down in the fort admiring the drawings they had just done.

Rachel came back with 2 glasses of juice and some biscuits for both of them.

“How about we watch a film?  Rachel asked.

“That sounds cool” said Mary

They chose a film and got comfy.

“The film was so good “said Mary with a smile when it ended.

“It was wasn't it” said Rachel, “We better tidy this place up before your parents get back or we will both be in trouble.”

Mary was sad, she didn't want to take down all their hard work.

Rachel could see how sad Mary was.  “It’s OK Mary we have our pictures, and if we tidy up quickly you can have my drawings too!  How does that sound?

Mary smiled and got to work.  They tidied up in no time.  Mary thought the house looked better than before they started, and sat down on the sofa and yawned.

“You wanna go to bed?” asked Rachel.

“No, I'm good” said Mary

“Really” said Rachel, with a little sly look.

“Erm, well”

“How about you put on  your pyjamas and we can watch another movie?” suggested Rachel.

“OK” said Mary with another yawn as she headed up the stairs.

Once changed into pyjamas, with slippers dressing gown and teddy, she came back into the sitting room where Rachel was sitting all ready with the next movie ready to watch.

Mary didn't know what happened, she was woken, being carried up the stairs to bed  by dad. 

“I hope Rachel can babysit again soon” said Mary sleepily.

“She certainly can” replied dad with a little grin.

©Joanne Hepburn 2015