What Benin lacks in retail options it makes up for in affordable labor. Can’t find a dress you like? Have one made to order! Wish you’d brought another table for that awkwardly empty space in your house? Have one built!

So when I decided that I wanted Flynn to have a swing but knew a swing set would be too big to ship from the United States, I searched for a local carpenter. He came over, looked at photos of what we wanted, and then a week later came back with this.

Admittedly there were some minor issues. It’s shorter than we envisioned so we had to wrap the swing’s long chain around the top many times. But Flynn knows no different. He runs over to it, arms flapping, whenever we go outside. There’s space for a second swing when he’s bigger and capable of more than just the bucket, but for now it’s just perfect.