The Stone

When the Faery was younger, she was obsessed with rocks. I was constantly finding little stones in her pockets - or the bottom of the washing machine. Everywhere we walked, she had to stop and inspect any potentially interesting stone or rock that crossed her path. Often, the ones she selected were nothing more than broken pieces of cement, but she'd insist on adding them to her collection nonetheless.

Three months before we moved to Los Angeles, it was her fourth Christmas. My sister-in-law gave her a small pouch that was filled with tumbled gemstones and crystals, and carefully explained the properties of each stone. The Faery listened carefully as her aunt told her that when she feels sad, holding the rose quartz could help her feel better because it can help with depression.

Since then, she's always kept her gemstones tucked away in a safe place and - on occasion, when she's been upset about something - I've found her clutching the rose quartz.

Last week, as Miss Pie was having a particularly horrendous meltdown, I heard the door to the girls' closet bang, then the Faery emerged with her rose quartz and placed it into Miss Pie's hands.

Miss Pie stopped howling, instantly. After all, no one had ever handed her a pretty pink stone before. In fact, she's usually discouraged from playing with small stones - this is the same kid who has lodged sultanas up her nostril, after all. I had good reason to limit her access to such small items.

The Faery's eyes just about popped out of her head. "Why is the stone so magic, Mum? Look! I gave it to her, and she stopped crying straight away!"

I didn't have it in me to explain the most likely reason why she'd stopped crying was simply because she'd never been handed something like that to actually hold before; that it was probably more to do with the novelty factor than any sweet act of thoughtfulness on the Faery's behalf.


This wasn't the first time she'd pulled out the rose quartz for someone else - last year when J found out about the unexpected death of an old friend, the Faery fetched her pink stone for him to hold. It was the one of the sweetest gestures I think I've ever witnessed.

This amazing little soul... where did she come from?

My sidekick

With the Faery at school, Miss Pie is now the main target

of my lens - whether we're out and about, 

or just hanging at home. 

I probably whinge too much about the toddler stage, but I 

also know that it's a lovely stage too. I remember when the Faery 

was my little sidekick in everything - my little shadow, 

my little friend. She still is, of course, but school steals

a lot of that time away from me.

School hours, I now have a new little sidekick

and she is seriously cute. Seriously active.

Seriously loveable.

*  *  *

And on the weekends?
There's lost time to make up for with my original little buddy.

Semi Wordless Wednesday: Trike love

One of the gifts that Mis Pie received for her birthday was a tricycle. It was an instant favourite, and when the Faery was done with school for the day, she spent time helping Miss Pie play with the trike.

I didn't expect to witness such lovely moments of sharing, but I did. If I stare too long at some of the photos I took, a lump forms in my throat. It may be clichéd, but there you have it. There is something about the last two photos, especially, that keep me returning for more.

Linking up with and then, she snapped: Wordless Wednesday, but with words.