Lie on the floor

I have two children - a daughter of 2 1/4 and a son of 8 months. So I rush around, try to keep the house tidy (generally failing dismally), the washing machine running and food in the fridge. When I'm not doing that, I'm feeding them or changing nappies or

hoping they will sleep for just a little while so I can catch up with paperwork. Yesterday I didn't. I laid on the floor by my daughter and closed my eyes. First she was slightly stumped, then she did the inevitable. She came over and climbed on me. And this was with a huge grin on her face. We cuddled, she climbed, I tickled her and we generally shared a lovely few minutes until she decided she had had enough. And I have to say that it was one of the nicest few minutes I have spent for a while.

In the days where we seem to never have enough time and too much to do in it, remember to get down to the level of your children and make yourself vulnerable. They are down there with a fairly daunting view of the world and my daughter's face showed me how much she appreciated being the one in control for a change. I think I am going to make this something we do at least a few times a week. My son is just learning to get around on the floor and is never happier when he can get up on his feet and see things from a different perspective. It always does us good to view things a different way, so I say "Lay down!" (just try not to fall asleep because you have been woken up three times last night...)