My first and last trip to the beach 2008 was with a four year old. After not having gone to the beach with a little one for years and years, I forgot how much more fun it is to see things through their eyes. Within a half hour or so of arriving, Maddie had commissioned Tana to help her build a sand castle. It started with the basics: wet sand compacted into buckets to make the towers, arranging them just so to keep enemies out, and digging a big pit behind the castle property line. About 10 minutes later, Tarl joins in. Maddie tells him his job is to collect rocks to help create the pathway to entrance of her fortress. I'm still lounged on the daisy sheet reading my Women's Health magazine. Another 10 minutes later I flipped over to get some sun on my front, and I saw four adult figures working and one child figure overseeing and giving orders of what belongs where and why it belongs there. Now I couldn't resist. I walked down to the shoreline and marveled at Maddie's castle. She informed me that she needed feathers for the tops of her towers. As I walked through the sand searching for the perfect feathers I couldn't help but feel the magic of this little girl's imagination. That is why I love kids so much, they see the things that as adults, we forget to see.
Best part: knocking it down!
