Day 119
02/09/09 13:07 Filed in: Diary
Pavement rivers and drain cover stepping stones, how do you entertain the kids on a long walk?
Yes, I have still got the kids with me. Although my partner got up and went out to work the rest of us had a late start today. That just mean't less time for the business. I think my partner expects the work to still get done, even when I have the kids at home with me. I don't think he appreciates I have to get them breakfast and lunch, nag them to get dressed and generally give them some attention. They are still on their school holidays after all. They know they have to return to school soon and look to me for exciting things to do before they go back. I feel awful saying "just go and play Mummy has to work". So I juggle. Neither the kids nor the work get my full attention, but each gets some benefit.
I decided in the end to take the two girls out of the house. They were starting to squabble a bit so I thought a change of environment may be good. I decided I would invite some of the school friends and their parents around for a BBQ on Saturday. A bit ambitious considering the weather today, but worth a chance I thought. So I made our eldest daughter create some invitations on the PC and we went out to deliver them.
The first invitation drop was only in the next road so there was no way we were going in the car for that one. The next was a little further but still easily walkable. The rest were in the opposite direction and would mean quite a long walk. To my surprise that is what our eldest daughter wanted to do. She was quite happy walking. I think she was hoping with each delivery that her friends parents would take pity on us and invite us in for a drink/play.
However there was nobody in the first two houses. With no buggy youngest was starting to really slow on the walk to the third. Although she did brighten up again when I promised they could have some sweets from the shop we were passing. It is great to see what a bit of sugary bribery can do!
The downside being that the sweets she chose didn't last very long. She soon perked up though when we decided to pretend part of the paving was a river to be avoided at all costs! Maybe I should explain? The paving was all tarmac and there was quite a wide channel cut out along its length from the shops to our next house. The cut out was a different colour tarmac and so easily visible. At most of the houses en route then there was another cut out up to each house. Yes, you guessed it, the cable company had been around doing their stuff. This allowed the kids to pretend it was a big river with little rivers running away from it that they had to jump over. When the "land" between the little rivers was too impassable, (due to overgrown gardens or just the way the cable guys had cut the tarmac) they had to jump the big river. This kept youngest amused for the whole walk. She was giggling her head offf as she jumped the rivers and could use stepping stones for safety, (drain covers). The fantasy was fuelled by the rain that was gradually getting heavier and heavier.
When we arrived at the house our friends were in, but having just returned from the supermarket they were obviously reluctant to let us in. I was a little disappointed, as well as wet. However I could see it from the Mum's viewpoint. We don't know them that well and we had just turned up uninvited. It was close to food time. She had a kitchen full of shopping and two hungry kids. I am not sure I would be so welcoming in those circumstances. So off we went to the next house. The river game kept youngest occupied for a little longer but our eldest daughter had got bored with it now. We decided to do just one more invite and then head home for our own food.
The walk from the last house back to home seemed to take forever. We were all wet, cold, tired and hungry. Despite this I still had to make food for everyone when I got in. I think next time I will check the weather and take our own drinks and snacks, and maybe the car!
I decided in the end to take the two girls out of the house. They were starting to squabble a bit so I thought a change of environment may be good. I decided I would invite some of the school friends and their parents around for a BBQ on Saturday. A bit ambitious considering the weather today, but worth a chance I thought. So I made our eldest daughter create some invitations on the PC and we went out to deliver them.
The first invitation drop was only in the next road so there was no way we were going in the car for that one. The next was a little further but still easily walkable. The rest were in the opposite direction and would mean quite a long walk. To my surprise that is what our eldest daughter wanted to do. She was quite happy walking. I think she was hoping with each delivery that her friends parents would take pity on us and invite us in for a drink/play.
However there was nobody in the first two houses. With no buggy youngest was starting to really slow on the walk to the third. Although she did brighten up again when I promised they could have some sweets from the shop we were passing. It is great to see what a bit of sugary bribery can do!
The downside being that the sweets she chose didn't last very long. She soon perked up though when we decided to pretend part of the paving was a river to be avoided at all costs! Maybe I should explain? The paving was all tarmac and there was quite a wide channel cut out along its length from the shops to our next house. The cut out was a different colour tarmac and so easily visible. At most of the houses en route then there was another cut out up to each house. Yes, you guessed it, the cable company had been around doing their stuff. This allowed the kids to pretend it was a big river with little rivers running away from it that they had to jump over. When the "land" between the little rivers was too impassable, (due to overgrown gardens or just the way the cable guys had cut the tarmac) they had to jump the big river. This kept youngest amused for the whole walk. She was giggling her head offf as she jumped the rivers and could use stepping stones for safety, (drain covers). The fantasy was fuelled by the rain that was gradually getting heavier and heavier.
When we arrived at the house our friends were in, but having just returned from the supermarket they were obviously reluctant to let us in. I was a little disappointed, as well as wet. However I could see it from the Mum's viewpoint. We don't know them that well and we had just turned up uninvited. It was close to food time. She had a kitchen full of shopping and two hungry kids. I am not sure I would be so welcoming in those circumstances. So off we went to the next house. The river game kept youngest occupied for a little longer but our eldest daughter had got bored with it now. We decided to do just one more invite and then head home for our own food.
The walk from the last house back to home seemed to take forever. We were all wet, cold, tired and hungry. Despite this I still had to make food for everyone when I got in. I think next time I will check the weather and take our own drinks and snacks, and maybe the car!
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