West london mum – surviving with three, awesomely!
The trials and tribulations of a full time parent
Never underestimate the power of water to keep a toddler occupied.
Now I’m off to enjoy a hot cup of tea… #stayathomemom #parenting
Follow my (mostly positive) adventures with Biggie, Middlie and Littlie as I attempt to turn being a stay at home mum into a rewarding and challenging career.
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Just had a lovely day at Kew Gardens with the kiddies (thank you to my friends with membership who got me in for free!).
I was excited to see the new kids play area… I had been slightly put off by the booking system which seemed like a bit of hassle, but as it turns out it was easy to book an afternoon slot, and the staff weren’t militant with the timings.
It was busy, but not too busy thanks to the booking system – I dread to think how overcrowded it would have been had they not instigated a wristband system.
The whole space was too big to keep an eye on all three children if they’d have spread out, but thankfully because it’s been set up into different zones (air, water, sun, earth – everything a growing plant needs), we could stick to a particular zone and everything was manageable.
There was something for everyone – Biggie loved the big climbing frame, Middlie loved the slides, Littlie loved the soft sand, and of course they ALL loved the water play!
Well done Kew!
Follow my (mostly positive) adventures with Biggie, Middlie and Littlie as I attempt to turn being a stay at home mum into a rewarding and challenging career.
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Follow @ealing_atFruit picking in Copas Farm, followed by picnic in Langley Park. Halcyon days…
The strawberries were lovely, but the raspberries were the surprise of the day, gorgeous! Very berry crumble on the agenda this weekend 😁
The playground at Langley Park was fun, too. I hadn’t appreciated how much fun a packed lunch on a see-saw could be…
Follow my (mostly positive) adventures with Biggie, Middlie and Littlie as I attempt to turn being a stay at home mum into a rewarding and challenging career.
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The thought of dealing with all three children for an 8-and-a-half week summer holiday is pretty nerve-wracking.
But, since I decided that being a mum was going to be my ‘job’, I’m approaching this as I would any other work project…. I made a chart.
For my sins, I’m one of those organised types. I’m very happy to spend time doing some organising (well, only if I care enough… don’t look at my wardrobe).
So, eight-and-a-half weeks to fill…
Time off:
I decided that, realistically I can have all three children for two weeks and have a whale of a time, but by week 3 I’d start getting a little snappy and short with them – basically not the best mum I can be. So I booked Biggle and Middlie into a holiday club for 5 days in week 3 and week 7 so I can stay on an even keel.
Planning:
First, I looked online for any playgroups and activities that would be suitable for all my kids and open over the summer. Then I asked around and posted on local parenting Facebook groups for ideas for mornings out and day trips with the family. I made a list of things I wanted to do with the kids and started pencilling them into a draft calendar.
I generally followed a pattern of mornings out, then workbook and non-descript table activities/free play during Littlie’s nap, and then something close to home in the afternoon.
Getting crafty:
With a rough plan sorted, I put it all into a spreadsheet, turned it into a wall chart and included pictures so my non-reader could still understand it. Then, for extra interactivity, i made a slider so Biggie and Middlie could slide it along for each new day.
Was it worth the hassle?
It may seem like overkill, but I’m happier having a plan in place, otherwise it’d take ages to decide on something and get out, and then things would get screwed up with Littlie’s nap time. No thank you.
Also, the kids like seeing that there’s a plan to the day, something they can foresee and expect. They like seeing for themselves what we’re doing each day.
So, all in all, we have a happy mummy with a plan, and happy children with summer activities they can look forward to! Definitely worth the effort
🙂
Follow my (mostly positive) adventures with Biggie, Middlie and Littlie as I attempt to turn being a stay at home mum into a rewarding and challenging career.
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Welcome to my crazy adventures with my brood as I attempt to turn being a full time mum into a rewarding and exciting career!
Having previously gone back to my accountancy job after my first two children (Biggie and Middlie), I’ve now taken the decision not to return to work following baby no. 3 (Littlie).
I’ve been in ‘stay at home mum’ mode for a few months now and I must admit that I’m loving it – I’ve jumped in with both feet and last week was a shining example of my life for the foreseeable future… After dropping off Biggle and Middlie at school, I went to my favourite playgroup. Littlie had a blast with the toys, but – even better – I had several cups of tea with the many friends I’ve made in the area who either work part time or not at all.
It was heartening to see that I knew over half the grownups there and had proper catchups rather than just making endless small talk (especially considering my overarching worry about full-time parenting was the loneliness). Wow, if every day could be like that! 😉
Secondary note: I’m now not posting photos of my kids on social media. Facial recognition algorithms, etc. So when you only see the backs or silhouettes of my children, that’s why…
Follow my (mostly positive) adventures with Biggie, Middlie and Littlie as I attempt to turn being a stay at home mum into a rewarding and challenging career.
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox:
Or follow me on social media:
Follow @ealing_at
West london mum - surviving with three, awesomely!