My son the loon...........

I popped into town this afternoon with Beansy (aged 7) as he wanted some new shorts for beavers.  I was having a look in Peacocks and had left him at the accessories whilst browsing.  When I turned around, this is what I found..........He was "rocking out" to Florence and the Machine's version of "You've got the love"

When I asked him if he minded my blogging about this, he said "I am such a cool dude mum, my fans (!) will love it"  so please, leave my little dancing loon some love!!!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xx

Potty Training - The Slattern's Way!!

One of my real life friends is Choc0range .  In fact, we spent New Years Eve dancing on tables and quaffing champagne until 5am at Kensington Roof Gardens.  It was a great night with lots of laughs and very sore heads the next day!  Her gorgeous little boy and my gorgeous little girl are very close in age and we have both embarked on potty training at the same time.

You can read about her attempt here Day One - Chocorange which is Gina Ford based.  Firstly, let me tell you that I am a massive fan of Gina Ford - her routines have been golden for all 3 of my children and Pixie still sleeps 2 hours in the day which is magic for me. 

When I was potty training Beansy 6 years ago, I followed Gina to the tee (a la Chocorange) and he was on and off that potty every 15 minutes, with star charts and treats.  I was housebound for the week  (cancelled all trips out) but by heck he got it and after 5 days he was totally dry through the day and night......

Bobo was next up and 3 years ago it was his turn - I followed Gina Lite for him, quite simply because I had a 4 year old that was at nursery and I was also pregnant with Pixie so couldn't be chained to the house.  Guess what? It worked and he was also dry day and night after 5 days.

Now for my little Pixie, I just can't be bothered with the potty on every floor of the house (3) one in the bedroom, one in the loo, one for the car, one for buggy, one for the garden, I can't be bothered to make a star chart, sit her on the potty every 15 minutes, ask her every 10.....so guess what?! I haven't.............

She has been a superstar (go Pixie!) I quite simply told her yesterday that she is a big girl now and that big girls wear knickers.  She totally accepted that and has only had 1 accident in 2 days and this is her 2nd night without a nappy. 

We went out to a friends house this morning no spare knickers, no spare clothes, no potty and she got on the loo and did her business.  So, there is an alternative - save yourself the bother of star charts, numerous pottys and being housebound!!

I am meeting up with chocorange tomorrow for a play date so no doubt Pixie will show me up by curling one out on the lawn!!!

Peace and Love

S.A.M xx

Freedom or Stupidity???

I have a dilemma and I don't know what to do. 

Beansy is a few months shy of 8 (that amazes me in itself that I have a nearly 8 year old!) and for the last few weeks has been badgering me to let him walk to the corner shop on his own.

It is 50m away, no roads to cross and we know everyone on the street and in in the shop.  However, the shop is out of my sight.

I am really wavering as to whether or not to let him go for the odd pint of milk, newspaper etc.

At his age I was cycling round the block to the letter box and can really remember the feeling of freedom, a sense of responsibility that doing a job for mum meant.

However, times have changed and I am not so sure what to do.  I know the chances of anything happening are slim but they are still there in the back of my mind.

When I discussed this with my mum she said "absolutely not, no way he is too young" and despite my reminder that she used to let me cycle around the block, she is still adamant that this is to dangerous to even contemplate.

However, I am not so sure, I don't want to wrap my children up in cotton wool, I don't want them to be scared of their own shadow and I want them to have a sense of responsibility.

So, if you were in my shoes, what would you do????

Peace and Love

S.A.M xx

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Buggysnuggle

There are some products that should be handed out to all parents on the way out of the hospital.  The all new design Buggysnuggle is one of them!

The new design Buggysnuggle, a footmuff for pushchairs. Fits almost all pushchairs, comes in 40+ fabric designs, is very easy to fit, the top can be zipped off for use in warmer weather and the zips open at the bottom allowing muddy feet to stick out.

I have been a fan since I inherited one from my sister in law about seven years ago which has stood the test of time on all my buggies across the world.  It had been skiing in the alps, hot to trot in the Maldives (obviously unzipped) and on numerous trips out and about.  It was admittedly getting a bit grubby so when we were offered the chance to review the all new design Buggysnuggle, I jumped at the chance.

We were sent the funky cow design which suited my little moo very well!  It also went beautifully with my Mountain Buggy which any style conscious mother wants.   Pixie was so excited and couldn't wait to get into her buggy:

We have been road testing this now for around 3 weeks.  Everything about it is great from the lovely, soft fur (faux of course) but the biggest improvement from the original  is the fact that the zip opens at the bottom so muddy feet can stick out!  This was something that used to really grate me about the old style design, but even if it does get muddy it is washable and quick drying which is an absolute must if you are a heavy buggy user.

 I also LOVE the new addition of a hand warmer pocket at the front although Pixie has been using this to put her toy phone and dolly in.

The buggysnuggle comes in several different designs from hearts and flowers to stars and stripes and you can now accessorise with matching hats and blankets.  They are also nice and roomy and easy to fit on all sorts of buggies thanks to the elasticated back and one size fits all strap insertions.

I'll leave the final word to Pixie - when I asked her what she thought about her new buggysnuggle, this is waht she did :

*MWAH* and that gets my seal of approval!

Listography - take 5 children's books....

Goodness me, what a week of blogging about literature.  Firstly, I blogged about world book day Here and then earlier today (yes another post on the same day, impressed?!) I blogged my story telling abilities (or not) Here.

Now the lovely Kate at katetakes5 has decided that this weeks topic for Listography is 5 favourite children's books. 

In no particular order, here are mine (not the kids, mine I tell you!)

1) Where the Wild Things Are - I LOVED this as a child and it's not surprise what my eldest darling son is called!  Yes, inspired by my love of this book.



2) Any of the Enid Blyton St Clare's books - I wanted to be a twin, I wanted to go to boarding school.  Instead I had a younger brother and went to a little prep school with not a hope in hell of boarding!

3) Piggly's Play Truant - utterly transfixed me as a child, the fact that they skipped school.  I was such a goody goody I enjoyed their naughtiness!  I am re-reading this with the boys and they love it as well.

4) The folk of the faraway tree - Another Enid Blyton CLASSIC.  If you haven't read this, then please, please do.  Beau Bo is enraptured by the goings on of moonface at the age of 4.

5) Peepo - Pixie LOVES this and I had forgotten how good it is - it's also beautifully illustrated with lots to look for.  We both adore this.

Love and Peace

SAM x

"I'm NEVER speaking to you again"

so said Beansy aged 7 this morning.  "You are the WORST mum in the World and I don't want to be in your family". 

Good morning to you as well my darling boy.  You may well wonder what on earth is going on, in the season of goodwill and all that.  Well let's rewind and I'll explain.

Beansy Boy is 7, a gorgeously scruffy boy who lights up my World, but by heck is he messy.  Every morning we go through the same scenario, which goes something like this:

Me "Kids, shoes and coats on, time to go"

Kids: "OK Mum"

This usually takes about 3 shouts from me and then just as we are ready to go, Beansy will wail "Mum, where are my shoes/book bag/hat/coat/scarf/gloves/homework".  Delete as appropriate.  Every single day is the same, despite me saying every day when we get back from school to put his things IN THE SAME PLACE.  His 4 year old brother can manage, his 2 year old sister pretty much manages, but Beansy......well, he just can't seem to get organised. 

Back to this morning, Beansy can't find his left shoe, we are close to being late and I have had enough.  I make him put his trainers on, write a letter to his teacher explaining the situation and off we go.  He is crying, no wailing all the way about "how he is going to get into trouble", "how I am the WORST mum - EVER".

I explained to the teacher on the gate that he needs to learn and I hope that the shame of wearing his trainers will make him more organised.  He was sniffling away as I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and to have a good day.

So, did I do the right thing???

8 things I wish I knew.....The Laws of Parenting

This is a blog born out of sleep deprivation, which as any parent knows is something that happens frequently.  When I was pregnant with Beansy 7 years ago, I wish I knew the following 8 tips for surviving, forewarned is forearmed and all that....

1) Sleep
Who can remember pre-kids when you used to wallow in your bed at weekends reading the broadsheets, sipping coffee and watching Saturday Kitchen.  This will NOT happen for a long, long time (7 years and counting) even if you go away for the weekend, your body clock will naturally wake you up at 7am.  It's called Sods Law and is a frequent law of parenting.
2) Head Space
I can just about remember a time when I used to get bored, bored of doing everything and bored of doing nothing.  You won't even get the head space to just "be" once you have kids.  They will consume pretty much your every thought and try as you might to shake it away, it rarely happens.
3) Routine
I am the Queen of Routine.  Prior to having kids I was just going to "go with the flow" but trial and error shows that my kids and me need the boundaries of a routine.  They need to know that bedtime is 630pm the same way I need to know that 7pm is wine o'clock.
4) Spontaneity
"Oh darling, let's go to Paris this weekend" HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
5) Worrying
I was never, ever a worrier.  Now I worry.  About a lot of things.  Irrational things. Rational things.  Things I have no control over are the worst (and being a parent has let me see that I can be a bit of a control freak which in itself has freaked me out)
6) Relationship
Your relationship will change.  As you embark on the path of parenthood, it will become apparent that you really need to work at your relationship.  Especially when your children are so young, they quite rightly become the centre of both your lives and you find the focus moves from you as a couple, to you are parents.  You must make time and effort if your relationship is to flourish.
7) Protective Gene
If anyone *dares* say anything about your kids in the negative (family/close friends aside) you will fume internally.  Guaranteed.  Even if they are right and you know they are. (or maybe that is just me?!).  Equally, if another child hurts your child, you will rage.  Again internally because it really wouldn't be cricket to thump the little lout who has just slammed your precious child's fingers in a door intentionally or stamped on them during a rugby scrum.  IF you ever have the misfortune of having a child in hospital then this is the when the gene is at it's most powerful.  You will also feel helpless.
8)Love
Saving the best to last here...
You will be overcome with a love so strong, that it sometimes bowls you over.  You can quite literally feel the invisible strings that bind your heart to your children's.  They are the creation and being of you.  You love everything about them and always will, even though you sometimes might not like them or their behaviour, you will love them eternally.  They are the future and the future is as bright and shiny as a new penny.  It is a wonderful and splendid thing.  It is a life journey that will be tinged with success/failure/happiness/sorrow but once you have taken that first tentative step on the journey of parenthood, you won't be able, nor will you want to, step off.