Boys, your Daddy really is the best

Watching the washing machine

When we go to the card shops you know those cards that say 'Dad you're the best' or, 'My Daddy is awesome.' Well, they have never been my style and I don't really feel the sentiment in them for myself. I do, however, think you have every reason to give them to your Daddy and here's why:

Daddy is kind, caring and always puts us first - he wants you to be happy. 

Chocolate and cake make him happy beyond belief. Cake made of chocolate is... well, awesome ! 

Spending time with you boys is Daddy's idea of a great time. 

The London Transport Museum is our happy place 

I know how much he wishes he could be there for school assembly every week. So you cannot imagine how he felt last Friday when he saw Big Boy receive a silver star for helping a friend. I know that he was the proudest parent in the room. 

People think I'm the strong one, but I'm not. Daddy is the foundation of our family and he makes us all strong and keeps us safe.

Daddy is the silliest, funniest and cleverest man I know.

Daddy is a very serious man

He makes up songs to amuse you - he's been doing this since before Big Boy was born.

Peppa Pig is his favourite TV show.

There are so many reasons why Daddy is the best, but I can give you my number one reason. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have you two.

Happy Father's Day 

Pigs can fly actually - so long as they're female

My boy: "Mummy can you put a lady driver into the helicopter please ?"

Me: "Of course I can sweetie."

My boy the feminist :) 

Peppa the pilot :) 

The trials of life (and homesickness)

Afternoon tea treat

I've been a bit absent lately and it wasn't entirely intentional. We went to visit the in-laws for a few days and I expected we'd be a bit busy. We took our boy to Peppa Pig World on Thursday. He's been a few times before and loves it there. It was torrential and there was thunder and lightning, but once the sun came out he went on all his favourite rides at least twice and some three times.

On Friday we went to Bournemouth for a spa day. It's going to be my birthday on Tuesday this week so this was a bit of a treat and after hitting the gym, the pool and having a steam and jacuzzi we had a nice afternoon tea. Grandma and Grandpa took care of the boy while we were out and by all accounts he was pretty good. I'd left his scooter and some craft bits for him to do with Granny, who loves painting and gardening so they usually do fun things together.

On Saturday it looked a bit cooler and I had a salon treatment booked first thing so I went to get my nails done and when I got back we decided to take the boy to a local Gruffalo trail. It was at a site called Bolderwood and some of the locations in the woods were just stunning.

tree roots

look at me !!

Of course we'd hoped the boy would enjoy it as he is a big fan of the Gruffalo and we are taking him for a Gruffalo birthday picnic in a few weeks so this was a sort of preview to get him used to what to expect. It did involve a fair bit of walking, but he was unbearably whingey about it all the way round the trail. He kept complaining about having to walk and even when hubbie tried to distract him with an impromptu game of Pooh sticks he just moaned.

watching a stream 

looking for the Gruffalo 

In an attempt to cheer him up I gave him a snack to bolster him along. He ate it and carried on grumbling. When we spotted some massive puddles I said he could jump in them because he had his wellies on. He jumped joyfully and then kicked at the puddles so that we all got splashed with mud too - thanks son. Then he whinged a bit more. Then he had yet another meltdown.

walking on cattle grids

playing peek a boo 

By the end of the walk we had all tried to cheer him up whether it was playing hide and seek with him hiding behind trees, or carrying him for bits of the walk or encouraging him by racing to get to the next signpost. We were all a bit fed up of the screeching, kicking, complaining - and by now squelching - threenager in our midst. It was horrible. He clearly hadn't enjoyed it at all and three adults had basically spent the day being yelled at by a monster of a child.

When we got back I looked up train times to come home and told Hubbie I wanted to leave and try to salvage at least some sanity while he spent more time with his parents and the boy could at least have his precious time with Daddy - who is his best friend apparently. Hubbie sat next to me and said we could all come home a day early. I felt terrible, but relieved.

When I sat with the boy at bedtime and told him we were going home he asked why. I explained he wasn't being nice and that it wasn't fun for anyone so we would go home. The reason I do 'Mummy and boy time' with him is so that we can talk about our day and sometimes he opens up to me about what's on his mind. From chatting to him I found out he was missing his teddy bears, his room, our cat - basically he was homesick.

A little while later I heard a plaintive voice asking for me or Daddy to lie with him in his bed. I closed my laptop and went to lie down next to him. He softly said, "I'm going to miss Grandma" and I said, "so is Daddy. He won't get to spend tomorrow with her now." My voice broke a bit and he looked at me, then he turned and put his tiny arm around my neck. He looked like he was going to cry and he started to stroke my cheek. "I'm sorry Mummy." I asked if wanted to go home and he said he did. I stayed with him until he fell asleep then gently took his hand and put it round one of the bears in the bed and went downstairs.

We came home today and I was shattered, emotionally wrung out and felt massively guilty for us leaving early. I've reorganised the downstairs of the house, defrosted the freezer and Hubbie has cut the grass in the front and back gardens. We took the boy swimming then let him play with his favourite toy cars and watch his favourite film and generally just hang out at home. It was like managing a tiny time bomb of screeching, kicking, yelling hysteria.

I can only hope that if he's like this at three and a half he's going to be an angelic teenager.

That's how it works isn't it ?

Bacon for breakfast.

This morning my boy wandered over to the side cabinet by mine and Hubbie's bed and picked up a small flat purple case:

"Switch on the ipad Mummy." he said.
"It's not an ipad sweetie it's a kindle. Now go and brush your teeth" I said.
He proceeded to open the case to check.
"Watch Peppa Pig on it Mummy." he said.
"It's not a tablet honey, you can't watch Peppa Pig on it. Go and brush your teeth" I said.
"Daddy watch Peppa Pig on the phone please." he said.
"Ok son, you can watch one Peppa Pig on my phone then we can go and brush our teeth."

I guess that's why it's called Fathers' day.

The day my son first drove a car (and a helicopter and a boat)

Well, after rain stopped play on Friday we finally got to Peppa Pig World yesterday and it was a gloriously sunny day. It was also quite busy, but actually not as bad as we'd feared it was going to be on a weekend. It was the first time we've taken our boy to a theme park on a day out so it was a new experience for all of us. We packed a picnic, bundled the boy and Grandma into the car and made our way to get there when it opened - we were not alone.

Those in the know arrive early and lots of parents I spoke to have been before and it says a lot that people come back so often. For us it was worth the queuing and the occasional tantrum as the whole place is designed for small children and the adults that they bring with them. Most of the rides were perfect for our toddler and there was plenty of space to eat a picnic in peace. Importantly there is babychanging in male and female toilets and the toilet seats are suitable for children and adults to use.

I've never been a great fan of theme parks thanks to my timidness on rides (even Miss Rabbit's balloon ride was a bit much for me !) so it was a big departure for me. I would definitely take our boy again though - not least as he's free until he's a metre tall and he's almost that already. As the in-laws live so close by it's also manageable for us.

It was a lovely family day out and our highlights included:

- the initial squeal of joy as our boy saw the sign showing Peppa, George, Mummy and Daddy Pig on the way in to Paulton's Park - you see we hadn't told him where we were planning to go

- seeing so many fathers wearing Daddy Pig t-shirts and insisting to their kids that they are the real one not all these imposter Daddies.

- carrying my son on my shoulders to meet Peppa and George - he has met them both before, but it was more magical to see them in their own house.

- the man who was overjoyed at winning a soft toy at the fiendishly difficult Candy Cat games stall only to be outraged that he was only allowed to win one toy per day, "I've got two kids, how is that fair ?" (well learning to read the sign that tells you the rules before you play might help !)

- my boy insisting he wanted to ride in a blue car on the Daddy Pig car ride all the way along the queue then his delight that he got to drive a blue car - dreams do come true son !

- our boy making a beeline for Peppa's teddy as he chose a toy from the shop just before we left to go home. He was holding it with genuine affection at the end of a tiring, but fun day.

Before we left in the morning our boy was watching Peppa Pig cartoons in Italian and I think he might now be fluent - I only know that Miss Rabbit in Italian is "Signorina Rabbita" which might be handy for Miss Rabbit's ice cream parlour if she decides to branch out into gelato.

The power of the pink one is incredible and my only objection is that they only sell pink Peppa clothes for girls and blue and green George clothes for boys. The Daddy and Mummy Pig shirts are also gender specific which is disappointing when clearly boys and girls love Peppa Pig's family in equal measure.

Now we've tried this theme park I don't feel so worried about visiting Legoland or Chessington when he's older.

Just don't ask me to go on any of the big rollercoasters son - please.