Tangles

Ouch!

AAAHHH

ouwh!

Mary hated how her hair made knots as she slept.

She dreaded mum trying to brush her hair in the morning.

Mary hated it so much she only allowed herself to do it.

One day Mary had to get a hair cut. Mary didn’t like this idea.

How would the hairdresser know not to pull too hard on her hair how would they know when it hurt unless she shouted?

Mary was worried.

They went in, mum said who they were and they were taken straight in. The hairdresser took Mary first. Mary didn’t like this.

First the hairdresser washed Mary's hair with a lovely fruity smelling shampoo. Then the hairdresser put a conditioning spray into her hair. She said it was magic untangle spray.

Mary thought this was nonsense but when she sat back in the chair and they combed it through, there were no tangles!

Mary waited but they combed again, and again there was no tangles!

Mary had her hair cut and even allowed the hairdresser to dry and style it!

WOW still her but with well behaved hair, the hairdresser said if Mary used the magic untangle spray her hair would behave.

Mum paid for the hairdressers and the spray. They both left very happy and no more tantrums.

©joannehepburn01/10/2015

I'm not tired!

“Come on Mary time for bed” ushered mum

“I’m not tired yet” protested Mary.

“How about we go for a nice warm bath first, you can play with your toys.” Prompted mum

“OK” thought Mary, I’ll take my time because I’m not tired.

Mum ran a bath all toasty and bubbly and put Mary’s toys at the side.

Mary stepped into the cosy warm bath and picked a few of her favorite toys and splashed about of a bit, washed her hair, body and face and sploshed about a wee bit more before mum came in with a big fluffy towel to dry her off.

Once all dried off and in fleecy warm pajamas mum offered to read Mary a story “I know you’re not tired, so why don’t you choose a few books” suggested mum.

Mary selected 5 of her favorite books.

“Which one would you like to hear first?” asked mum.

“I don’t mind” said Mary with a yawn settling down into bed.

“OK we’ll start with the little mermaid.”

Mum didn’t even get thought the first page and Mary was sound asleep lost in her dreams.

So much for not being tired thought mum as she turned off the light and quietly closed the bedroom door.

©joannehepburn 05/10/2015

I'm lost

Mary was very confused.

She wasn't happy, but she wasn't sad either?

Nor was she playful like usual, but she wasn't sleeping.

Mum simply asked if everything was OK?

“I think I'm lost.” stated Mary flatly.

“Oh? Well your at home in your room.” Said mum with a cheeky smile but that didn't get the response she expected.

“No not like that! I don't know what to do, my thoughts are all jumbled and they don't make any sense! I'm lost in my head.” replied Mary sharply.

“Oh, I see, I'm sorry, I thought you were telling me the start of a joke, I'm sorry. 

 When my thoughts are too many or too jumbled or both, which is quite often. I go for a walk or I do the dishes or I just do something very basic that doesn't require any hard thinking and that helps me."

“Maybe a walk round the garden can help” so Mary put on her wellies, jacket, scarf and hat and went out for a wee walk round the garden, normally she would've gone for a proper walk but she just couldn't focus.

After a wee break outside and after collecting some sticks and a few new stones Mary came back into the house.

“Do you feel any better?” asked Mum?

“A bit but still too many thoughts in my head.”

“Why don't we try this new thing auntie June has been trying to get me to do.”

“Erm what? Is it drawing?

“Its breathing, but you need to sit and really focus on your breath and how you body moves its called meditation.”

“That sounds boring.”

“Yea I suppose it does but do you want to see if it helps?”

“Suppose I could,” replied Mary. So they both made sure they were sitting down comfortably.

They turned off the T.V and tried to focus on their breathing, Mary giggled and opened her eyes a few times, so did mum but after a few minutes they focused and got into it properly.

After just 10 minutes mum asked Mary to gently open her eyes and gently stand up.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel lighter?” said a much happier but slightly confused Mary.

“Thats good, thats all part of the process, do you feel more focused and less lost?”

“Yea I suppose I do,” replied Mary with a smile, I might go and make some pictures with my twigs."

“Brilliant idea, and now you know if your feeling lost again what to do.”

“Yea that was good,  I liked it and I feel much better,” said Mary with a smile with her twigs.

©joannehepburn 14.02.2016

The whining bus

Mum and Mary were heading into town. 

It was a rainy day so they decided to take the bus.

Joe liked the bus, so did Mary. 

 Mary liked to watch the world go by while she sat in a comfortable seat.

They got on Mum paid the driver and they all sat down.

As the driver pulled away from the stop and into the road the bus let out a loud

“SSSHHHRRREEEEKKKK” as it turned!

“What was that?” asked a shaken Mary?

The bus turned and moaned again before mum could answer.

“Is the bus alright?” Asked Mary.

The driver overheard and could see Mary's concern. 

“The bus is fine, its been sat still all night in the garage and just needs a wee stretch to loosen up.”

“See,” said mum, “Its just like us if we sit still for too long, we get all stiff too”

“I'll make sure I do lots of stretching too,” said Mary as she moved her arms about.

The bus quietened down as it loosened up as they reached their stop.

Mum and Mary thanked the driver and hoped the bus would be much better soon, Joe just giggled as they headed into town for the days shopping.

©joannehepburn

Nursery

Mum said to Mary today she would be going somewhere new. 

Mary was going to go to a ladies house and play with other children till mum came and picked her up.

“Wont you be coming with me?” asked Mary confused.

“I can’t today Mary, I’ve got to go back to work.” Said mum.

“But I don’t want to go on my own, I don’t know the lady and I don’t know the kids. I want to stay at home.”

“I’m sorry Mary, you can’t what if something happened, how would I know you needed me? I need someone I can trust to look after you and Joe.” Said mum

“I’ll look after Joe and Joe will cry if I make a noise and the neighbors will come to check.” Mary thought this was a much better plan.

“What a great idea, but Mr and Mrs smith next door both work and Mrs White has to run her business too so she wont be home either. This only leaves the lovely lady at nursery.” Advised mum.

Mary had a sad face on all as she ate her breakfast, and as she got dressed, as she put on her shoes and even as she put on her jacket.

“Don’t look so sad Mary, your going to have so much fun.” Said mum trying to make Mary smile.

Mary was a bit scared, she didn’t like places or people she didn’t know.

They walked silently mum pushing Joe in the pram, Mary walked barely holding on to the buggy lost in her thoughts.

They go to the house and walked up the path to the door. Mary spotted lots of toys, but was still unsure.

Mum knocked on the door and a very happy lady answered it with a bright top and big smile. “hello, your just in time, we’re just about to play with some bubbles!” and with that she took Mary’s jacket and lifted Joe through to the garden.  Mary saw lots of smiles, so Mary smiled too, this was going to be fun she thought.

Mary was having such a good time she didn’t even notice Mum quietly going off to work! 

 She noticed when she returned to pick her and Joe up, Mary had so much to tell her. 

They had had so much fun Joe was asleep and Mary had drawn mum a picture of the family playing with bubbles so mum could see what they had been up to all day.

They all left with big smiles and sleepy heads.

Dad had cooked a yummy dinner.

When mum was tucking Mary into bed while Dad read Joe a story mum asked,

“Did you have fun at nursery Mary?”

“So much fun mum, it was brilliant” said Mary with a smile.

“Can I go back tomorrow?”

“Of course you can, as long as I'm allowed to go to work?”

“Of course you can,” replied a very sleepy Mary with a big grin.

02.02.2016 joannehepburn