We got L.A. Toddler a new “big girl” swing for her birthday. She’s outgrown her infant/toddler swing and summer’s coming so we’d better be prepared, right?

I searched high and low for something appropriate for her age and realized that she’s too big for the infant swings and the full-fledged metal or wood swing sets are a little too much for her - more appropriate in another year or two.  So L.A. Daddy and I fashioned a swing just for her.  We used a wood porch swing frame, bolted it to the patio and attached her fabulous new Little Tykes “big girl” swing seat.  To say L.A. Toddler loves her swing is an understatement.  She will sit and swing on it for hours.  Yesterday she asked me to swing with her - which means I sit in a lawn chair near her and give a gentle push every so often.  At first this was a bit boring, then I noticed a very pensive expression cross her face. She started singing one of her favorite Strawberry Shortcake songs (”Jammin’ Jammin’…Strawberry Jammin’.” It’s been stuck in my head for weeks and now I’ve passed it along to you!)

Suddenly, she stopped and said “Mommy, I don’t ride the red swing anymore because I’m a big girl now. The red swing is for babies.  Like my brother / sister in your belly?” “Yes,” I replied. “I’ll let the baby ride my red swing, Okay?” she continued. “That’s very nice of you - to share your swing with the new baby.” I responded. She thought for a few minutes and then stated “I’m gonna be a big sister, and will share my baby toys with the baby ’cause I’m a big girl now.” “The baby will like that very much.” I reply as I’m thinking - my poor baby - she’s growing up too fast.

“I’m not a baby anymore, Mommy,” she realizes. “No, but you’ll always be my first baby.” I reply. “Okay,” she happily replies. “I’ll be Daddy’s first baby, too?”  “Yes”, I reply. “OK, ” she says, “I love you, Mommy.  Daddy, too.”

“And we love you, too!”

I grew up in a small country town in Ohio.  And couldn’t wait to leave. But one of my fondest memories is of taking a ride to get an ice cream cone after a nice summer supper.  We’d take the back roads and would see countless couples and families sitting on their front porches or playing in their front yards. My dad would honk the horns at the folks we knew - which was nearly everyone.  But whether you honked or not they always waved at the cars going down their roads. I realized after my swingin’ conversation with my daughter that those old folks you see sitting on the front porch swing watching the cars go by have it made. They’re enjoying each others company. And that’s what makes life grand.