The Dreaded Swing

Miss Millie Moo's day isn't complete without visiting each of the three swings we have on the property. Emily delights in the feeling of swooshing through the air so much that she could quite happily spend hours on the swing.

A typical swinging day starts in the morning where Miss Moo selects which pair of gumboots she wishes to wear and brings them to you to put on her. Once her footwear is on she heads straight to the door and demands we go "Swing" whether you are ready to go out or not.
The first swing to be visited is the baby swing hanging from the large acacia tree in the basin. She heads straight for this swing getting more and more excited the closer we get to it. Once she is safely bucked into the swing, her feet kicking wildly, I pull it back as high as I can and let go. "WEEEEEEEEEE!!" she giggles with such delight, her face has the biggest grin on it and her feet flail madly about.
Half an hour later when I am so incredibly bored and my arms feel like they are about to drop off, she is still crying "WEEEEEE!" with every swing. "Two more minutes" I tell her...... I stop the swing and the battle ensues to get her out of it. She clings to the ropes and locks her legs into a bent position making it quite impossible to pull her up and out, all the while screaming in anguish. After a mighty struggle I am the victor and head home again with my squirming, sobbing wee girl thrown over my shoulder.

Our swinging day continues after lunch... again gumboots are selected and Millie heads off to the playground where swings #2 and #3 reside. She heads straight for the baby swing hanging beside the sandpit, "Swing!" she commands excitedly. With a great sigh of patience I help her into the swing, pull it back and let go, "WEEEEEEEE!". This time I don't last half and hour, "Two more minutes" I tell her after maybe 15 minutes of swinging. I stop the swing and another battle ensues. After much screaming and kicking I get her out of the swing and place her on the ground where she stomps away grumpily........ to swing #3!

Swing #3 is the big kids swing (meaning it has no back and no restraints) which hangs quite inconveniently next to swing #2. Millie reaches this swing and promptly starts trying to climb onto it. "No more swinging"  I tell my daughter, but do you think she listens? No. I watch Millie doing her very best to get up onto this swing and can't help admiring her determination. Slowly my will power crumbles and with a great sigh I head over and help her clamber up on the big kids swing. She sits there with a straight back, holding tightly to the ropes and grinning cheekily with her success. I crouch down and very gently give her the tiniest pushes, ready to catch her the minute she starts to wobble.
She doesn't seem to enjoy this swing as much as the other two, I guess as she can't go as high so only lasts for a few minutes before deciding she wants down. She does this by suddenly letting go and launching herself at me.
Millie is now a happy wee girl, she has had her three swings and is quite content to head home without any drama.

On our way home Millie spots her favourite person. She takes off towards him like a rocket, running as fast as her little legs can carry her. Her Grampy sweeps her up into his arms and Millie looks him in the eye and says "Swing!" and off they trot for swing #1.....