We recently were delighted to receive an email from a client who purchased a playhouse for her family many years ago. She recalled joyful memories, such as having a picture of her daughter standing next to the big Lilliput truck as the playhouse was being delivered, and how “her brothers were so so envious of her house!” Since then, she was happy to report to us that her playhouse was in “excellent condition,” however, she wanted a new part for her door and doorbell.
But what she told us next, really warmed our hearts. She continued recounting how, even today, the playhouse brings special meaning to her family on the holidays. She wrote to us:
My husband loves Christmas and always puts white twinkling lights around all of the trees and shrubs in our yard. This past Christmas was exceptionally bitter. He had everything done except for Meaghan’s [play]house. I told him not to bother… [but he] became upset and insisted that he finish putting lights on her house. He wanted to have everything as it always was, so when her car turned onto our street, she would see the twinkling lights on her playhouse, welcoming her home for Christmas.
Her recollection made us smile, and caused us to slow down and reflect on the magic our work can bring to families. In addition to her Christmas memory, her letter went on to recall other moments enjoyed by her daughter with her playhouse. She continued:
Many hours of Meaghan’s childhood were spent inside her house. I eventually found a white cast iron bistro set to fit inside her playhouse where she and her best friend and their American Girl dolls would have tea parties. The only thing our daughter never did was sleep in her house, so many times the sleeping bags were all set up [along with] flashlights, snacks etc. The girls would be in the playhouse until about 11:00pm and then [eventually run] back inside the house!
She also shared a more recent memory:
At Meaghan’s graduation party last summer, she and her friends went into her house after all the other guests left and talked for hours. [I] know there was laughter, but also tears… childhood days were ending. They all knew things would never be the same again, yet they didn’t want to let go of those happy memories of carefree times.
Notes like these help us consider the purpose of our work; to not only craft beautiful children’s play structures, but also to create special moments and traditions that will always be remembered. At Lilliput Play Homes we spend our days building miniature worlds for imaginary play. But the truth is, that families are the ones who bring them to life!
Thank you to all those who have allowed Lilliput create childhood memories. We are incredibly honored to be able to play a part in so many special family traditions.