M. is six.

I don’t post a whole lot of personal stuff on this blog. Partly cos that’s not what most of you who visit here are into. Partly because you have to be a little bit careful about how much you share of yourself online, for a range of reasons.

Sometimes, though, it’s nice to be a little self-indulgent. And, well, this blog is about photos, as well as travel and aid work.

I shot this little set of photos (with one exception) during a little trip to the beach not far from where we live. I’m pretty new to this parenting thing, and it’s not without its challenges. And at times, quite frankly, it’s terrifying. But one thing I feel very strongly (not that I’d ever try and distill parenting into a catchphrase) is that one of my most important roles as a parent is to ensure that M. gets the chance just to be a kid. Not worry about all the things her mum and I worry about. Not work her tail off like we sometimes have to. Just play, and run, and laugh, and feel light, and free.

Just be six.

Because being six is about riding scooters on summer afternoons.

Being six is about having little buddies who are soft and cuddly…

…and taking them with you everywhere you go.

Being six is about kisses from mum…

…and not caring when hair gets a little crazy.

Being six is about bike-rides in the park…

…and icy-poles…

…and sticking out your tongue.

But best of all, being six means having someone there to make sure you can just, well, be six.