jenniferblaine

Today Lily got a whole bunch of new toys. This pile was filled with various items for a hair salon. “It’s time for me to do your hair,” she announced. She patted a pillow for me to sit by her. “I like your salon,” I told her, “what is it called?” “It’s the Charles Manson Hair Salon!” she brightened. Oh dear. Where the hell did she hear about Charles Manson?! “I am Charles Manson!” she announced, “and I don’t care what you do or say. I am going to cut your hair however I want!” Even though she is only three, I was completely terrified to go under the blade. As her mother, I wanted to support her, so I played along. And you know what? I got a very different hair cut than I was expecting, and for the first time in my life I didn’t care how my hair looked, I was just happy to be alive and hop out of the chair. “Tell all your friends!” Lily beamed. So if you want a haircut and a near-death experience, give us a call.

My husband Michael and my daughter Lily spent an hour at a neighborhood fair on Sunday to enjoy a petting zoo, moon bounce, and face painting.

When Lily came home I asked her how she enjoyed her time. She said it was good. But then what transpired was amazing. For the next four hours she re-enacted the fair. This took many forms. She gave all the animals — sheep, lamb, calf, donkey — dialogue about how their day was going, and what they really thought of all those kids. She had me pretend to be her favorite characters and we went around the fair and toured all the rides. We even had a picnic in the middle of all the excitement. Her fantasy version of the fair went on long after the actual fair. She had such a wonderful time that she kept the experience alive as long as she wanted.

What struck me about this was how many times I relive something in my mind, but it’s often not pleasant. Yet somehow Lily knew that the power and magic of our minds is to keep the party going long after the confetti is swept away. We can always keep the party going in our mind.

If you could relive any moment in your life right now, what would it be?

In fact is there a moment that you know someone else had that you want to pretend to have for yourself? Go ahead. Borrow it.

You can make it real… And actually, in your imagination, it may be even better.