Caring Heart: Independent Play

As many schools head into their April vacations, I wish for all of you readers the celebration of this foster parent.

Playing Alone

She did it! This afternoon she played for an hour in her room, all be herself. She didn't say, "I'm bored," even once.  She didn't come and ask me to play with her.  She didn't whine or ask for something to do.  She played by herself.  She entertained herself.  She controlled herself.  She stayed focused.  AND she didn't mess up anything or destroy anything.  She simply played by herself.  What a wonderful thing for her finally to discover.  What an important life lesson.  To learn that she can amuse herself.  That she is okay all by herself.  That her happiness doesn't depend on others making her happy.  Help her absorb these lessons unconsciously and help me bit by bit label these triumphs for her. She played by herself.  She was happy. She wasn't bored.  She had fun. She did it!


Excerpted from "The Caring Heart Speaks: Meditations for foster, kinship, and adoptive parents" by Gail Underwood Parker     Artwork by Anna Parker David from the book cover.