The room of calm

Lauca, in her bedroom of calm with her fellow stress-bunny friend*. These two have been highly strung little poppet friends since they were screaming babies in their mothers’ arms. His mother and I met in a doctor’s surgery years ago when we were both new to motherhood and she recognised the haggard expression on my face – oh, you have a difficult baby, too, then?

And so we became friends. But the miraculous part of our friendship is that Lauca and her son have also maintained a friendship over the years. The other day I heard him thank Lauca for laying down with him and keeping him company when he’d felt overwhelmed with anxiety. You’re welcome she said, matter of factly. Aww six year olds being polite and caring towards one another, melts the goddamn heart. And wouldn’t everyone like that kind of friendship, one where your friend will lie with you and talk books and lego until you feel better?

(The cat among the stuffed toy animals).

(Important design feature – note the way I have paired the guinea pig cage with the mirror ball in the corner of Lauca’s bedroom? Interior design genius).