Dreaming of a child's Christmas

OPINION: She used the fork as a drum stick against the pot, to rake up the seeds I'd just planted, to brush the dog, to poke me in the bum, to splash in the dog's bowl and then went to stick it in her mouth, writes Gerry Forde in this week's Southlander.

But when it came to lunch, she wouldn't look at a fork and ate with her fingers.

For the toddler everything – even a fork – is full of possibilities, whereas we narrow everything to just one purpose.

How to be spontaneous like a child?

Right at that moment my 20-year-old child burst into the lounge, yelling "Beach Day!"

This was the rally call whenever the sun burst through the clouds on a weekend between October and April.

Immediately, my adult mind rebelled – it's too cold, my togs don't fit and the desperate – we might still win the cricket.

Then I remembered to be childlike and grabbed towel and togs and headed with a passion for Oreti Beach.

At four o'clock there was only a broken line of cars and two swimmers both in wetsuits.

My resolve was going out with the tide until I remembered that a child never follows the mob but is so intent on his own experience that he is quite happy to have a tantrum in a supermarket.

Goose bumps broke out before my pale foot felt the nip of the Tasman Sea. I grinned desperately at my daughter and she laughed back, "This is fun!"

Before long she was squealing as the water lapped her waist.

I was on tip toes to keep the numbness to my legs. Then I saw a bloke sprint in and dive straight under the water.

I had to do the same, after all, I'd been paddling for half an hour.

Under I went and it was a rush like a bungy jump, my mind and body blown away by the freezing water. I came up just in time to see the other bloke scampering out as fast as he'd dived in.

But I stayed, and played, and body surfed, and splashed and laughed with my daughter. Then I floated on my back in a glistening wash of surf and wondered ... can I still peel back the layers of routine and crusty cynicism and capture again the magic of a child's Christmas?

» Gerry Forde is the Venture Southland regional identity brand manager.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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