Reflections from Neverland

~MRS. DARLING~

“She was a lovely lady, with a romantic mind and such a sweet mocking mouth. Her romantic mind was like the tiny boxes, one within the other, that come from the puzzling East, however many you discover there is always one more; and her sweet mocking mouth had one kiss on it that Wendy could never get, though there it was, perfectly conspicuous in the right-hand corner…

~RAUCOUS ROMPS~

Lovely dances followed in the nursery… the gaiety of those romps! And gayest of all was Mrs. Darling who would pirouette so wildly that all you could see of her was the kiss, then if you dashed at her you might have got it. There never was a simpler happier family…

~LOVE & RESPECT~

Mr. Darling used to boast to Wendy that her mother not only loved him but respected him. He was one of those deep ones who know about stocks and shares. Of course no one really knows, but he quite seemed to know, and he often said stocks were up and shares were down in a way that would have made any woman respect him…

~GUARDIAN OF THEIR MINDS~

Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children’s minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are laid down to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can’t) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtinesses and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.”

excerpts from Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie

I adore Mrs. Darling. She stirs up a romantic desire within me to woo my children and husband with beauty, grace and charm, to award myself the indulgence of slowing down, allowing for a fuller appreciation of the romance and fullness of joy afforded me in the ordinary moments. Since reading this passage I have winked at the children when I sit on their bed to tuck them in and pray with them at night, teasing them that I have come to tidy up their minds. They grin so wide and giggle and we all find sweet joy in the moment. This excerpt awakens a passion in me to be a spontaneous dancer, a mysterious fount of grace, a romantic keeper of kisses, a gentle guardian of their bustling little minds. A desire to be remembered as positively Darling.