Swinging

When I was younger (though not as young as Jack), we had a swing hanging in the doorway between our kitchen and dining room. I don't remember how long we had the swing, but I do remember loving the novelty of an indoor swing.

It was hard to compare any indoor space to our amazing yard, with its animals, bubbling brook, pond, big rock, and two swings, but having an indoor swing definitely brought the indoors up a few notches. That swing always stayed in the back of my mind, particularly as I started to go to friends' houses and witness their restrictions ... not allowed to walk inside with their shoes on!? Not allowed to finger paint at the table or make their own "perfume" using spices and extracts?! Not even allowed to have pets! But they were allowed to watch hours of television and drink unlimited amounts of soda.

You can guess, I suppose, which childhood I envisioned for Jack from the moment I found out I was pregnant. While we don't have the most kid-friendly yard - we bought the house not anticipating children - we hope to by the time Jack can appreciate it. But I can bring some of my other, memories to life for him.

And as we embark on a bitterly cold January day, I feel satisfied knowing that, thanks to Granddaddy's handiness, Jack has his own swing hanging in the doorway between the living and dining rooms. The smile on his face while he's swinging, either languidly while snoozing or wildly while daddy runs back and forth with him, is an amazing tribute to my own happy and carefree childhood.