An Ordinary Saturday Morning #BEDM

The prompt today for #BEDM (blog everyday in May) is Weekend Morning Routine.

Well, what can I say, we are slow. I mean like REALLY slow.............

And today, even slower, as Aaron slept at midnight last night!!! Don't go there, don't ask me to revisit it. I'll have nightmares. Just pray for me that he goes to bed earlier tonight!

So today, in my PJs and in Aaron's, we hung out 5 loads of washing, and whilst we did so, we were in the hot sun. The weather's recovered. For any international readers it is the May (1st of two) bank holiday here. We British REJOICE when we get good weather on a bank holiday weekend.

I was a DIY Manager in Homebase from 1996 to 1998 for 2.5 years and I can tell you, bank holidays, when the weather's good are murder. Everyone does DIY then! If you don't, look around you, and you'll find someone doing it.

So it came as NO surprise this morning that our neighbours were putting new fence panels up. It was great as they were right by the washing line, so they chatted to me while they worked AND even made me a latte, in a posh cafe style cup and everything, with one of those posh capsule machines.

But back to our routine. Aaron is going to be 4 in a few weeks, and he still has a morning and evening bottle of (soya) milk, each of which are on my knee, so that is how our morning begins, and gives my coffee chance to kick-in. Now somebody reading this is now judging me on two counts: one because of the bottles and two, due to my needing coffee like a drug. I am with you on both criticisms, but what can I say. I have loads of defences for the bottles, but I am too tired to argue. RE: the coffee, I was a yoga teacher for 6 years, and in the yoga circles for a total of 10. I did MANY a detox during that time, and used to feel all high and mighty when I'd see colleagues NEEDING coffee. Some colleagues wouldn't even have a meeting with you till they'd had one. I was judgemental about it, but it's yet another classic case of "there but for the grace of God go I" - things change. I needed coffee pre and post yoga, and during it too when I wasn't on a detox. IN FACT I went through a phase where I always popped into Starbucks on my way to teach yoga. I know I know I know they don't pay their tax, which is why I am now a Costa Coffee girl ALL THE WAY - a good BRITISH company.

So, yes, our morning begins in PJs, with coffee and bottle. Liquid gold for us both.

Today the PJs stayed on till way passed midday and we were only at the bus-stop to begin our day out at 15:30. Thankfully it WAS still hot and sunny at that point.

This was taken at that very same bus stop as an impatient Aaron waited for the bus to arrive:

Much love, Liska xxx

Back to our Friday Routine of Swimming with Two 3 Year Old Boys

One of me and Aaron's favourite activities is swimming.  Last Spring we got into a habit of going every Friday, but then we got a new routine of meeting my best mate and her son every Friday and swimming went by the wayside.  I actually had no interest in going swimming during the heatwave we had during the Summer and much preferred the paddling pool in the garden which got lots of use.

Anyhow a couple of weeks ago, my new routine and my old routine combined, and now the 4 of us (2 x boys and 2 x Mums) go swimming every Friday. We've only done 2 Fridays so far, but it already feels like a new healthy habit.

In the water there are no issues with running around, or sharing.  It is so relaxed and so so so much fun. We sing songs, we splash, we laugh, and we relax. No housework out of the side of your eye, and no toys/telly.  Bliss!

Things I do to make it easier:

1. When I come back from swimming I wash his/my swimming hat and his/my swimming costume. They get packed in a bag, which is put in a drawer, so that the next time we go swimming it is just a case of grab and run.  When he is older and has goggles etc... I will add them to the bag!  I am not tidy, so this routine really helps when I am in a flap trying to get ready to run out the door.  We've been swimming on and off a few years now (well 3 at least) and it's a routine I have always stuck to.
2. I ensure we have lunch before we go, but obviously not too close to swimming.  Hungry kids don't like swimming!  Despite lunch an hour or two before swimming he still gets out of the water ravenous.  Be prepared for this!
3. Week 1 of our new routine he went to bed early, but week 2 I was disappointed to see that the same trick did not work again.  The trick is to do bedtime at tired and not wait till over-tired!
4. Make sure I have the ONE POUND for the locker and the entrance money.
5. Make sure I have a wet bag (a drawstring bag that the wet things will go in after).
6. Make sure that when I fill the locker, towels are at the top.  He's always freezing when we get out of the water.
7. Stop at the showers to warm up on the way to the lockers (it's a bit of a walk).  See point 6!
8. Get him dressed in warm clothes before me, for the same reason.
9. Do not put his shoes on, and threaten that I don't want him to get his socks wet, so that he stays seated while I get dressed.  Week 1 he ran around the changing rooms while I tried to dress.   Week 2 I knew what I was doing and did this trick.  Will it work again this Friday? No idea but I will let you know.
10. Deflate our Zoggs arm-bands after the swim, so that they are flat and not tangled (by that I mean twisted).  Also means they dry properly and are nice and flat, ready to be blown up next week.
11. I do point 10. because with our Zoggs arm-bands (which I love by the way) you have to inflate part 1 before part 2, and this is hard to do if they are not flat and untangled.  I learned this from a time I went swimming with Anya in Brighton, (a year ago this coming week actually) and got stressed/tearful when I couldn't blow them up properly.  I was stressed anyway, and got the finger equivalent of tongue-tied.

There's info for parents of swimmers on this website.

This past Friday, I had to take a pic of Aaron in the changing rooms as we were spending the weekend with Perry the Penguin to blog about #PerryOnTour. 

Look:

This is Aaron's second all-in-one costume which is ideal for keeping little ones warm.  When he was under 1 years of age, in the early days of our swimming trips he had one of those swimming nappies, but they are only bottoms so I used to have to team it with a t-shirt which looking back on it was SO silly.  I much prefer all in ones now!  If I had my time again (which I hope to as I don't want to be a Mum of One) I would go for a float suit. Apparently float suits are ideal for new swimmers. Our arm bands are also on that link.  What I LOVE about them is that they are ROLL UP.  Easy on and easy off!!!  They are currently only seven pounds and worth every penny if you ask me.  We have been using ours since 2011!  Our wet bag is actually Zoggs too, (I see it is only five pounds on their website, but we paid double that as we bought it in a swimming pool - don't be caught out like me and buy as much as you can directly on their site) so we are big fans in this house. You can also get fun dive sticks from Zoggs if you have older swimmers.  We're a couple of years off that just yet :-)  Zoggs are actually doing a 50% off swimwear Sale at the moment!

Do you take your little ones swimming? I'd highly recommend it. I can't wait till Friday.  Actually last week we saw a Mum and Daughter refused entry to the pool as neither of them were in a costume, but rather underwear.  I am really glad they are okay about my best mate wearing a long sleeved t-shirt and leggings as she is Muslim and must cover up even in the pool.  Thankfully the pool is empty on Fridays so we don't have to seek out women only classes.

This post was brought to you in association with Zoggs but ALL opinions and words are mine and mine alone.

Bye for now, Liska xxx

We're All Going to The Zoo Tomorrow

One of our ALL TIME FAVOURITE places to go, is Paradise Wildlife Park.  Perfect for a 3 year old as there is a HUGE outdoor park area with loads of slides etc... and a substantial soft play (indoor) area where Mum can have a coffee and you can shelter from the bad weather (if there is any) and in Summer they even have a paddling pool. One day I will invest in the annual membership.

They've added lots since our last visit so I can't wait to go again.  I love going there as much as Aaron does ;-)

We haven't been since 22nd February 2013 (which was our 3rd time there) so it's about time we went again, tomorrow!!!!

It's one of Aaron's favourites and he's had a birthday spent there.  As with last time, we're going with my friend Deepa and her little boy (Aaron's best mate).

So at the moment I am busy humming this: We're All Going To the Zoo Tomorrow
I don't even want to tell you how long it took me just now to find that tune on Google pfffttt!!!!!!!
Save it, in case you need to play it, when you want to get your little one excited about your impending trip!

So, photos from our last visit :-)

Aaron was captivated hearing that this is a Tenrec when he was adamant it's a hedgehog!!!

Underneath the Meerkats!

The rest of the photos can be found in my G+ album.

Oh and In The Play Room has done a fabulous review of Paradise Wildlife Park.

P.S. if you have read this far, Boots Christmas Shop is now open!!! 
I will get a smidgen of commission if you click on that link.

Oh and P.P.S.

Also on offer, get £5 off with every £50 you spend on 1000s of Baby Product! 

Valid: 2nd October - 15th October 2013

Discount will be applied at the checkout!


Liska xx

Road Safety and Children

The last few days I have been walking, with Aaron cycling, to the shops with Aaron and it is a 30 minute walk each way.  Tuesday we went to Siobhan's and it's even further.  He was on his balance bike every time.  It's great as I get to walk as fast or faster than I did with the buggy but without the hassle of pushing it.  If you have a toddler who slows you down, get a scooter or balance bike.  We've had the former and now we've progressed to the latter.  I can honestly say the bike is better, as in his scooter days he used to keep stopping and slow me down; on the balance bike it is the reverse and I struggle to keep up with him.

Anyway, I don't drive, so Aaron's always on pavements and roads out and about with me.  I thanked God for that many times this week, as he speeds off on the balance bike and it is impossible to keep up. Because he has been off reins for a LONG time he is sensible enough to stop at every curb and wait for me. Plus the fact that his feet are constantly in touch with the ground (well nearly always) means he is in good control. He only free wheels when going down a slope, which he did a lot yesterday and today, but in controlled spaces when he is doing "stunts" (on grass slopes not road/pavements).  We BOTH learned our lesson from a couple of weeks ago when he went down a hill in Hampstead Heath and ended up with a cut knee - he is still sporting the plaster.

Anyway here are some pics from the last few days.

Monday was mainly on paths next to grass but when we were on roads he knew to keep on the pavement and wait at EVERY curb!

Above, he stopped a few times to look at flowers or pick me flowers - I photographed the daisy but he also picked me some lavender which we spent ages smelling.  Look at the pic where he decided to lie on a rock. He said he was tired from doing stunts.  Where you see those trees in the pic, he cycles down a kind of valley bit, again and again.

He zooms off, but bless him, he waits at every curb.  I thank God he's spent the last 3 years being a pedestrian with me, and is therefore very road and pavement savvy.  He also knows unexpected things happen.

As below he knows all about red and green men at pedestrian crossings.

A word of warning, do NOT 100% trust the green man and don't allow your child to either; Aaron knows not to go simply just because of a green man.  He knows to get a verbal "yeah okay" from me.  We had an incident a few months ago where a cop car went through a red light (green man to us) and did NOT have its sirens on.  Worse still, it had stopped at the preceding junction (which is when we looked up).  We then walked to the island, and it was when we were on the second half of the road that it decided to zoom through.  Aaron was one step ahead of me (this was pre-balance bike) and I grabbed his hood, only just in time.  Yes that cop got a tongue lashing from me.

Tuesday on the way to Siobhan's

I know Aaron's going to need a bike with pedals in the not too distant future - he's REALLY good on the balance bike.  Then it will no longer be an option as to whether we go out without the helmet.  I am useless a at strapping it on and the moment, so we've been opting to leave home without it.

I am right by his side the majority of the time, but what I would really love is if we were BOTH on bikes.  In a previous post I explained how we got my bike out of the garage, after it not being used for 4 years.  The local cycle repair man gave it a full service for only a fiver.  I went out on it that day, but it was because the husband was with us, so if I sped off he could take up the rear and mind Aaron.

I haven't had the courage yet to go out just me and Aaron on our bikes.

When I was little my favourite Aunt used to cycle everywhere, including from Paddington, where she was a nurse at the time, all the way to Tottenham to see us.  She used to take me out cycling but she would insist we cycled in the road, and not on the pavement.  I used to stick like glue behind her, and as close to the curb as I could get.  Boris seems determined to make cycling a big part of London life, what with the new Ride London event, which I think they are hoping will be as big as the London Marathon in years to come.  At least when they are participating in that, they don't have to worry about traffic and car accidents, as lots of roads where cleared for them, much to the disdain of a lot of drivers.  I heard many complaints on LBC 97.3 as the roads were closed way longer than they are for the marathon!

In the red man green man photos above, we are on the way to Siobhan's and I have taken his bike off him for a second, so that he can press the button and cross the road.  Normally I let him cross with the bike, but very slowly, and right by my side.

Aaron's only 3 but I would instil road safety from a very young age, as you can't account for everything, so to have them confident and as trust worthy as possible is important.  When we are out and about I don't want him running in front of a car because his ball has gone in the road, or because he's seen a friend.  I want him to know better.  I want to keep my son safe.

We've seen the ambulances that arrive after a road traffic accident and Aaron is, bless him, very cautious. We've never had locks on our cupboards or drawers either, as for the same reason I believe teaching lessons is better than simply, you can't touch.  I think they learn more, when they know the reasons for things.  It is much more empowering.  I spoke to him in full sentences since he was born, and now his vocabulary and speech is testament to that.

What road and pedestrian safety do you teach your child? Have you had any near misses you could tell us about so we don't make the same mistake?  I think I will be telling my cop car story till the end of my days, as I truly never saw that coming.  It shows, like we were told when we were little, it's not just look left, look right, but also LOOK AGAIN.

In terms of actually being on the road, in the car, I sit in the back with Aaron and he has a very good Britax car seat and I always have my seat belt on.  We're often saying "slow down Daddy".  The main thing, with being a pedestrian and being in a car, is watching for what other people are doing.  It's all about being with it, and having the correct time to respond and react SAFELY.

Bye for now, Liska