Thriving

Champ and I are having some great times at home at the moment. It makes me even more excited to be home full-time soon. He is just at a fantastic age. His days are filled with extreme highs and then extreme lows (tantrums) and he is really teaching me to slow down and really be present in the moment. We both seem to thrive when I remember to do that.

A while ago I wrote about how hard it is to entertain Champ during winter. I have since been proactive and found some solutions to our boredom.

1. We joined the toy library
Who knew so much enjoyment could be had when we simply rotate toys! Champ plays with the 'new' toys we borrow compulsively for the first week of the hire, the next few days, he'll then play with it a couple of times, then is so 'over it' by the time the 2 week hire is up. Then we go and borrow 3 different toys and we are all happy again! It only costs $40 a year as it is sponsored by the local council. Cowboy and I also get enjoyment out of the novelty of the new toys. Here are some pics of Champ enjoying a few of our hires.


2. I bought some puddle pants
I haven't received these in the mail yet, but am hoping it will solve the wet park dilemma! We live in a pretty mild climate here, so really nothing but rain is keeping us from the park.

3. Cheap/free activities
We have found some indoor play centres near us that only cost a few dollars to visit (with coupons on the net). We have a ball at these places and one day I will drag myself away from the cool toys and have a cuppa while Champ plays solo. Swimming at the council pool, using our zoo pass and play dates with other kids also feature on our rotating itinerary.

I have also pulled our bikes out of the shed and we have had a few rides when the weather hasn't been too bad. We live along a bike path and Champ sits in a little car which is pulled along by my/Cowboy's bike. The car has a plastic waterproof window at the front which can be lowered if it is windy/cold/raining so that only I am exposed to the elements!

We had a little trouble on day 1 trying to get Champ to give it a go. I guess it sort of looked like a prison to him (plus Mummy and Daddy were wearing strange hats on their heads - way scary!). He screamed as I wrestled him into the harness and his ear piercing scream told me to 'forget about trying to put that helmet on me Mum'. As soon as we took off, he realised that this was a fun thing after all and was happy for the whole trip. He even let us put his helmet on after a few minutes of riding, and proudly showed off his his 'hat' to his Lolo (grandfather) when we got home.


4. I sit down more
I used to spend our at home time rushing around trying to organise things for our next outing, doing as little housework as possible or 'cooking' dinner (Cowboy would argue that meat and 3 veg require very little real cooking). Now I try to sit down with Champ and follow his lead in what he wants to play with.

Balloons are always winners, as a bonus Champ has learnt to say 'up', 'down' and 'catch' through balloon play. The games he come up with now are funny too. He played with his toy library large, soft blocks for the first week of the hire (another great chance to demonstrate 'up' and 'down' - although he favours the 'down!'), as he was getting a bit bored of them I put the into a toy bag he seldom uses. Suddenly this was a new great game of taking out all the blocks (usually by tipping them over his head) and putting them back in one by one. Entertains him long enough for me to drink a whole cuppa!

So, yes, all is good in the Lemoncake household at the moment. Now, if only I could find someone to do the housework and cooking for me everything would be perfect...