Queue

What a queue.

I had to queue for over three hours last Saturday. 


Not to audition for the X factor, or to get my hands on some tickets to the Olympics, no, no, no the endless queuing was to get my girls into swimming lessons at my local leisure centre. 


It's utterly ridiculous how difficult it is to get your children into any kind of extra curricular activity these days, and that's even when you're paying. A lot.


The Government are always talking about an obesity epidemic and the fact that children do not do enough exercise, but there is little in the way of clubs or activities readily available for children to take part in. Yes there is the park and I take my kids often but even our local playground has been closed for months on end as it gets refurbished.

I want to get my children into trampolining, gymnastics, dance classes, playing an instrument. Obviously not all at once, but an activity once a week that can stimulate them and help them to learn new things. In my utopian world I envision a place where little people are able to take part in every single kind of activity under the sun, with perfect ease. They laugh and play, they get fit and make friends. Everything is all good but the reality couldn't be further from the truth.....

Ooh look, I may have to eat my words, for through the letterbox is a leaflet listing a number of fun activities for the run up to the Olympics. Plus the local park has just re-opened with a big celebration launch due next week.


Looks like things are set to get a little bit exciting around here......


Feast your eyes on these pics. What a park eh? No guessing where my brood and I will be most days this summer......

Such a fun climbing frame. And the sand is fab.

These metal trays are great. There are more like this
especially designed for water play.

The hill in the background has tunnels running underneath.
So much fun for children.

And there's a lido..woo hoo!
Currently locked away until launch day.

What activities do your children do? Were they difficult to find and sign up to?

When I'm older

Source

My eldest who is four and a half said to her dad and I a few days ago;


'When I'm older I won't live with you and mummy any more will I?' 


Suddenly I had an awful ache in my heart and it really hit home.


I know it's obvious, but at that moment in time I had the realisation that by the grace of God my precious children are really going to grow up and leave home one day.  


Sometimes it's all too easy to get bogged down with the day to day chaos of being a parent and a stay at home mum, and lose sight of the fact that these days, no matter how difficult they can sometimes be, will not last forever. 


Time is whizzing by and there is so much I want to see and do with my children. There is so much I want them to see and do and experience on their own and with each other.


I feel so disorganised at times, because I have an array of activities I want them to get involved with. I must  get my head down and get things done.


After all, time waits for no man.