My family and I live just outside of Boston, and one of our annual traditions is cheering on the marathon runners at mile 24. This year, as usual, my husband and I took our daughters, Alex (7) and Eliza (3), to enjoy the excitement. We headed home around 2:00 p.m. for a much-needed nap. Little did we know, this moment of normalcy would be shattered just an hour later. That was when the bombs exploded, changing our city and our lives forever.
Finding comfort amid tragedy
Just days later, the city was still in lockdown. Authorities continued to search for the second suspect, urging everyone to stay indoors. We spent most of the day at home, trying to process what had happened. The weather was beautiful. I knew my girls needed to get some fresh air.
We stepped outside to our small, fenced-in patio. We had recently added “spring sand” to the sand table. The girls immediately began mixing concoctions. They combined sand with earth and dried rhododendron leaves. They used old Tupperware containers that no longer had matching lids.As they played, I realised that in that moment, play was the one thing that could offer comfort through the chaos.
Play as a shield from fear
As the soundtrack of sirens echoed through the city, I watched my daughters’ carefree laughter fill the air. They were in their own little world. Alex offered me a chance to mix my own milkshake from sand, and Eliza made me ice cream cones out of dirt and leaves. I could feel the tension begin to release as I ran my fingers through the sand. It was cool and smooth, almost like liquid.
In that small, peaceful moment, I remembered how simple play could be. As my children played, I felt myself return to my 6-year-old self—anxious about something, but momentarily free from the weight of adult worries. The nervous butterflies in my stomach gradually calmed, and the fear that had plagued me lifted.
The healing power of play
What began as a distraction from the tragedy turned into something deeper—a reminder that play holds the power to heal. In the middle of uncertainty, it’s easy to forget how grounding and soothing play can be. As my daughters dug their hands in the sand, I realised that comfort through pop-up adventure playgrounds was something they were giving me just as much as I was giving them.
Alex and Eliza were sitting in the sand table, laughing and pouring sand over each other, making faces and enjoying the moment. For the first time in what felt like weeks, I found myself laughing too. It felt so good to be in the moment, to experience joy and comfort amid the surrounding chaos. I wished the table were big enough for me to climb in and join them.
Play as comfort through tough times
On that day, one of the most terrifying days of my life, I was reminded of something simple yet profound: comfort through play is one of the best ways to heal. It helps us reconnect with ourselves and others, even in the most uncertain times.
Now, every time life throws a challenge our way, I remember that sometimes the best thing we can do is engage in play. Whether it’s for our children or ourselves, play offers solace. It is a comforting gift that we can always turn to.
Through this experience, I learned that comfort through play is not just a gift we give to our children—it’s something we can offer ourselves as well.
play = comfort
By Anna
