My two little nieces and I were taking a nap…. actually I was pretending to be taking a nap in hopes that they might actually take a nap. In the course of pretending to take a nap I started to nod off. But before I fell deep asleep the two of them slowly sat up. Though I knew they weren’t going anywhere, I could feel their eyes looking at me, so I kept on pretending to be asleep hoping they would follow my lead.
Instead Molly (my five year old niece,) combed my hair with her fingers, she took my hands and place them on top of one another on my stomach, then she put my legs straight and my feet close together, she took great care to each detail of my appearance making sure my clothes were tidy and smooth of wrinkles. Each of her movements were solemn and serious. Child-play can be like that. Eventually she caressed my face and whispered, “I love you.” Then to my other niece, who hadn’t made a move the entire time she said, “Shh, Aunt Coco is dead.”
Molly’s words surprised me at first. Then I saw the depth of meaning in her actions.
The moment was sacred. In her child-like way she had straighten my body into a position that she had seen my father, her grandfather in. She was processing and coming to terms with his death. Children like adults have sincere feelings and thoughts too. They too grieve and try to understand the depth which is before them.
The two of them sat silently by my side for some time, I kept pretending to be asleep…. The symbolic gift of child-play can aid healing.
Photo: My cousin Judy’s collection of old paintings of children reflecting.
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