Today we invited a few little neighborhood friends over for a piñata party. My son’s caregiver brought him one for his birthday, filled with balls and goodies. It was nothing like the piñatas I remember from my childhood. This one was huge and came pre stuffed with the things that make kids feel happy.
As parents of mostly two year olds, we spend a lot of time telling our kids not to hit or grab. The piñata party was an experience in the opposite. One at a time we handed our children a plastic bat and then told them to go ahead, hit it. They all took turns, looking a little sheepish and happy. After a few rounds with no budge, the parents jumped in and I have to say, it felt good to haul off and hit something. I could see that I wasn’t the only grown up that felt that way.
When the piñata did finally burst open, little cars, plastic reptiles, all kinds of cool little things (including tiny Sun Maid raisin boxes) flew out onto the ground. There was a moment of silence while all the kids looked at the toys hesitantly. Then we told them, get in there and grab some of those toys. They did, although they all seemed pretty reserved.
The piñata was a very thoughtful gesture from our caregiver. So simple but so much fun and one of the most carefree things we’ve done with our little one lately. It made me determined to find more abandon in our days.