Thirty-some-odd years ago, my older brother traveled to Russia and he brought back 2 gifts for me… 2 sets of Matryoshka Dolls, known as Russian Nesting Dolls. I loved these dolls from the first moment I saw them. I opened the largest of the little wooden rounded head figures and they carefully nested four others within their beautiful peasant dress selves. Those larger dolls protected the smaller inner dolls, and as each smaller one was revealed, I became more enchanted with them.
But they were wooden. They were fragile. And I placed them high on a shelf and took them down to show the kids only once-in-awhile. Then we would open each doll and carefully nest them again and put them back on that high shelf. And those wooden figures remained safe and protected year after year after year as they watched my family grow.
This past Thursday, I had 2-year-old Benjamin and 16-month-old Henry at my house for the morning. We played with puzzles and trains and a little bowling set. We had Frosted Flakes and Goldfish crackers. We colored with brand new crayons…
… then Benjamin looked way high up on a bookshelf and spotted my Russian Nesting Dolls. He wanted them.
I found myself not hesitating one moment. I reached way up high to get the 2 sets of dolls that I so prized and sat them down on my rug. Benjamin and Henry stared at them in delight as I opened the largest of the two dolls and revealed all the enchantment within. The littlest of the dolls are very, very tiny… and these are the ones Henry loved the most. I sat there on the floor with these two little grandsons and wondered why I hadn’t done this before. Then it struck me… because I’m a grandma! Grandmas know that the moment is more valuable than the future. The moment is what makes memories for that future. And as we played, I found myself calling the Matryoshka Dolls what they are often called – Babushka Dolls… the Russian word for grandmother.
I didn’t worry about them breaking. I didn’t worry about the tops and bottoms not fitting properly. I didn’t worry at all. We played with those dolls for the longest time… sometimes in complete silence with the awe they inspired. But what I found completely awesome was when Benjamin stood up, walked to Pop-up’s checker board, carried it to me and Henry, put it on the floor… and placed the dolls, ever so carefully, on the board.
All these years of those Babushka Dolls watching over my family, and little did I know that they would bring that much enchantment and they could be used as checkers. Go figure!
We’ll be taking these dolls down more often now… !
Leave it to the little guys to find a fun new use for them 🙂
Another heartwarming post, with a dollop of humor. Perfect. Benjamin does look so gentle placing the dolls on the checkerboard, Henry in rapt attention. Truly, truly sweet.
I remember well when your brother went to Russia. (“Hello, how are you? Can I have a beer? My wife is a truck”). Can it really have been more than thirty years? Well, yes, you and I were in college then and we graduated…how long ago?!
Babushka…grandmother, a fourth phrase to add to the collection.
How wonderful! My grandma had a set of these that her brother sent to her during WWI. As a child, she never hesitated to let me play with them, either. There was something so magical about breaking them down to get to the tiniest little doll tucked away inside.
I also was gifted with a set of these Russian dolls. Mine also sit high up on a shelf for viewing. My granddaughter also asked to play with them and I let her until she started putting them in her mouth. That is something we will again later when she is little older.
OMG, how neat! Would you believe I am looking for a set to give to Ivy? Steph and I were just talking about these last week. How special that you let them play carefully with them. Great story Sharon, as always!
How sweet! And what memories. With one Russian grandmother and one Polish grandmother, these dolls were never far from sight when I was growing up. One set of my grandmother’s dolls sits on my shelf still. What a wonderful thing to pass down from generation to generation. 🙂
Tee hee! I love this post! Those boys are adorable! xo
I have a nesting doll that my grandchildren love to play with. I received it as a gift from my daughter who traveled to Russia 20 years ago and I was very protective of it. But my grandchildren know it’s special and are very careful when they play with it.
Sweet picture!
I’m half Polish, and we also have some Matryoshka dolls; our almost-five-year-old twin boys love them, too. My husband can’t help being skittish about letting them play with them, but as soon as I hear, “Can I have those dollies?” I just can’t resist getting them down…
In fact, I might get them each their own set for Christmas this year.