The set up inspired so much raw creativity, with nothing but mud and some old kitchen supplies. Boys were using beans to buy things from the girls. Berries were collected to make cupcakes. A menu was posted saying, “Today’s Specials: Mud Pies and Rainbow Salad.” Toddlers happily filled and carried buckets of water. (Soon our rain barrel will get hooked up to the downspout on our garage so we won’t be wasting water.)
The girls were happy to have the boys mix (or cook) and the girls do the arranging for the dinner. More flowers were collected, plates were filled up with grass, small buckets were used to serve coffee. The play was endless and it went on till 7:15, with no mention of any real kind of real dinner. None of us mamas wanted to break up the seamless fun. All nine children of varying ages from 1 1/2 to 11, young girls and big boys, found their niche, a creative place, a job, meaningful work that was really play. It was beautiful to watch.
