February 2009
Snow, ice, cold – ‘Well, we don’t suppose there will be many Little Dragons today,’ we said. So much for that – despite the adverse weather 24 tots and their Carers arrived at our weekly session. Before their arrival we were all feeling quite glum due to the miserable conditions outside, the Credit Crunch, job losses amongst those in our orbit, health scares – and on, and on and on …
By 10.15 a.m. we were in full flow and teeming with the joy that these little people bring to us week by week. Regardless of what may be going on in the world around, the sight of tiny smiling faces does much to make the world seem a better place.
By the time we had played; coloured and stuck bits of paper here and there; listened to the story of naughty Mr. Crocodile (and taken care not to fit beneath his chin); counted up to 5 and back again; rowed our boats down the river, the stream and to the shore; marched up and down the hill with the Grand Old Duke; we were all gasping for fruit and juice or coffee according to our various tastes. There’s something about young children that helps one to keep life in perspective. However grey the skies may appear to be, however heavy the clouds may glower, even if we cannot see the rainbow’s end, we can envisage a future through the eyes, smiles and delight of the little ones in our care. Their trust has not been eroded – and may it be that it never will.
When, at the end of each story time we hold hands together and say a big, ‘Thank you, because we are all here together!’ let us hope that such a sentiment might hold all of us together. We need each other!
Val Butterworth