“Mom, this is the perfect place for me to be a butterfly.”
And just like that, Maggie took off into the gardens at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Fluttering her arms and running as fast as she could – around in circles – I couldn’t do anything but laugh and soak up the moment. Her imagination and the pure joy on her face was priceless. She kept yelling, “I’m a butterfly! I’m a butterfly!”
Isn’t it funny how adults see something one way and a child sees something so much bigger? I see a serene garden setting and think back to the night I once celebrated a friend’s wedding in this very spot. A night filled with music and dancing. Maggie sees an open area perfect for perfecting her butterfly techniques – a place to be free and have fun.
A child’s imagination is a beautiful thing and as a mom, I love seeing Maggie create places in her mind and express herself.
As I tucked Maggie into bed that night, we talked about visiting the gardens and her response really surprised me. She told me that she wasn’t just running – she was flying and she couldn’t wait to go back again soon. And you know what? I can’t wait to go back again soon too and see the butterflies.