Ran time

This summer, Rex went home ‘early’ to attend Scout camp in the UK meaning I had two weeks of ‘Ran time’.

I was a little unsure about how this would go: Rex and Ran have only been apart for one or two odd nights in over six years! I am not really a very good ‘playing’ kind of mum; make-believe, construction bricks/ blocks/ dens, sea folly not my forte so I was worried he’d get frustrated (…bored). With Vandy not with us either I was also worried little Ran would be overcome with home sickness.
Perhaps Ran was frustrated and I know he was homesick and missed Rex a lot- his first and last words of the day were about his big bro, but….

…actually, the two of us had a wonderful time!

I feel so incredibly grateful to have been gifted this opportunity to have time alone with my second born. We got to know each other in new ways, learned how to be around each other in adapted ways, shared moments of joy, sadness and nostalgia together.
He was calm- a calm which felt new to me, not yet exhibited in my presence anyway. He showed his intelligence, his inquisitive nature, he was rational.

He was a total pal.

I observed a Ranulph who, perhaps needed this time apart from his brother, his peers, perhaps other males (?) to fully understand himself and feel free to express himself 100%. Perhaps he needed this time with my undivided attention to comprehend better who I am, who Zoe is, not just mummy, but an actual human being, one who always and forever has the best interests of her family at heart and as her motivation for everything.

My darling, I will always cherish my Ran time x