Just Beachy

When I asked Jaedon what he wanted to do tomorrow, I didn’t really expect an answer. Not apart from ‘Have some chocolate toast for breakfast, pleeeeeeease mummy’.  But I actually got a very definate answer, in two parts.

Part one: I’d like to go for a drive, mummy.  (and let me add here that both Matt and I obviously still have a hint of English-isms influencing our accents.  If you could hear how he says Mummy, there’d be no way you could refuse what he was asking for. Even chocolate toast for breakfast.)
Reasonable request. Ok, sweetie. We can go for a drive.  Where would you like to go?

Part two: I’d like to go the beach please, mummy.  The beach?  I’m not sure where that one came from, but he said mummy again, in his beautifully sweet voice, so who was I to say no.  And the boy who doesn’t like to get dirty, or wet – and I’m seriously talking DOES. NOT. LIKE. to get dirty or wet – went and got his swimmers out, along with Alicia-Rae’s, and made sure I didn’t forget to pack them. We were going to the beach after all.  You know, the place with plenty of sand, and dirt, and water….

I thought maybe he’d forget, or realise the error of his ways as he slept, and dreamt of endless stretches of dirt and wet sand. But I woke to him standing at my side of the bed, whispering in my ear, Mummy… We’re going to the beach today, Mummy.  Joy.

For all his fussiness and compulsive neatness, we had an absolutely wonderful time.  It was as if he’d neatly tucked that side of himself away, deciding to simply be a boy, and do what boys {normally} do best.   I think we all forgot ourselves for a few hours, and just delighted in being. Together.
And even as I sit here, recalling the day, I can’t quite shake the magical joy it was. Nor do I want to. It’s tough being a parent sometimes (yes, I admitted it), and I wonder from time to time what it would feel like to be able to do what I want, when I want.  I have a vague recollection of what that was like.  But at that point in time I was exactly where I wanted to be, doing precisely what I wanted to. And needed to.  It’s nice to just be.  So, boy did I soak it up.
And what makes me extra joyful is I have that magical afternoon captured. Frozen forever.  Even since last night I’ve looked at the photographs at least a half dozen times. Feeling, remembering, smiling. Sighing. Breathing in, exhaling, and being thankful.  Thankful for my life right now. And thankful for my boy’s sudden and necessary desire to go to the beach.

And I absolutely adore the photos. I think it’s the first time I’ve felt absolutely compelled to do something with them.  I guess its a bit like the cobbler’s house here – we don’t actually have a lot of photography adorning our walls (aside from the fact that we can’t, as we’re renting while we build).  But I already have some of these earmarked for nice big canvases, and most likely an album.  It’s nice to feel like I’m on the client end of my photography.  🙂

If you’d like to view the slideshow of our beautiful afternoon, I’d love for you to share in it.  Just click here.
But, of course, I’m still going to share some of my favourite shots with you now.  You didn’t think I wouldn’t, did you?

Narrelle x
{ Children’s Photographer Melbourne }