Rowan Tree and Red Thread

I spent some of the middle of the day in the park with Rowan, minding her while sammywol shot round Tescos for the weekly shop. I think I got the better deal as Rowan was in great form at the playground in the park, making friends consecutively with two boys, one Andrew the other Donal, and engaging in high speed circuits of the various slides.

I noticed that Rowan doesn't usually choose to go on the spiral slide of her own accord. However, when she's caught up in chasing after (or running from) a new-found friend she abandons her caution and spins round the spiral slide gleefully. I wondered to myself if she isn't more a joiner than I am, and whether she'll have problems later telling friends she's not going to do whatever stupid thing the peer group has decided on this time.

So I was impressed that she took the spiral slide again after Andrew and Donal had left. I had forgotten another standout trait of hers: her stubborn sense of "I know what I want and no amount of argument is going to change my mind!" I wonder where she got that from.

I was also impressed when Rowan asked for two jelly tots (small sugared jelly sweets) and promptly stuck one in her pocket for later. Delayed gratification! She's already more advanced and grown-up than I am (at least when it comes to almond fingers, one only weakness).