Julie Helen; ‘Teamwork makes dream work’ my 4- year-old tells me
Julie Helen says car picnics are a favourite element of being a mum. Picture: Stock posed by models
The road from my home place to West Cork is once again becoming very familiar as we make multiple trips back and forth each week.
On a sunny, Friday we stopped at the petrol station in Béal na Bláth. We needed milk, like the true locals we have become. Ricky at four-and-a-half is all business about helping me shop and he emptied a bag that was in the back seat so he could house his provisions.
While we waited to cross the concourse, he piped up “Stop, wait and listen” while I ensured it was safe to get to the other side. Another mum commented on how responsive he was to me. In that kind of situation, he needs to be verbally responsive because I can’t hold his hand or pull him along when I’m walking with two sticks. He stays in front of me, but knows I will give him a steer when he needs it.
He loves being independent and is very aware that he is a great help to me. As he says himself: “Teamwork makes dream work.”
When we got into the shop, our list grew from just milk to include biscuits, crisps and ice cream of course. When we got to the till, Ricky hoisted his bag onto the counter. A lady who was next to him told him it was a heavy bag for a small boy. He promptly told her that he was four-and-a-half, as if to assure her he was huge!
She told him she had a grandson who was six and as she did the timbre of her voice sounded familiar to me. I was concentrating hard on standing and also momentarily panicking that she was right that the bag was too heavy for my little precious kid!
When we were in the car, Ricky said, “Let’s have a car picnic!” He clambered into the passenger seat when I realised I had bought no ice lolly for myself! My little man assured me he would share his multicoloured fruity item and sure enough he did with utter glee!
We sat and chatted for half an hour, sharing an ice lolly. In those simple moments, I feel so lucky. Ricky looked at me during our conversation and asked when he would be old enough to go into the shop by himself!? Slow down, my boy!
He seems to be in such a spurt of development at the moment, which stands to reason because he starts big school soon.
I feel like too much of a hypocrite trying to be holier-than-thou with screens when I use them all the time myself.
Sitting having a cup of tea, it dawned on me that the lady who spoke to Ricky could have been none other than singer-songwriter Mary Coughlan. Sure enough, when I used my trusty screen to Google, she was playing in Clonakilty that night and I even went further to pop her a message on Instagram and apologise for not acknowledging her appropriately. I think she has such a soulful voice. This year, Mary is celebrating 40 years in the music business and is bringing out a new album and touring around to promote it. I’m glad her adventures brought her to our little spot and I hope we meet again some day.
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