Today's news that Mr and Mrs Perry have won their appeal has given me a little bit of relief. One of the many joys of childhood are jumping on a bouncy castle (and I've heard adults enjoy it too).
The news that the Perry's had been found liable came just as I was considering to book a castle for my son's birthday party - I have to admit that I didn't make that booking but I have allowed my son to go on a bouncy castle over the Summer (under strict supervision of course).
The voluntary group I belong to were organising summer parties for children and parents up and down the country and were initially told that they were covered under insurance for bouncy castles (as long as all paperwork and risk assessment checks had been made) but then the insurers withdrew their insurance unless we paid an extra premium - which amounted to more than our local event actually made 2 weeks ago.
I have every sympathy with Sam Harris and his family and obviously his care needs to be paid for but is this another example of how litigious our times are and the feeling that there always has to be someone to blame?
Thursday 31 July 2008
Tuesday 29 July 2008
My son, the exhibitionist
Yesterday will be noted down in our family history as 'one of those days'.
My husband has escaped for a few days sitting by a lake, drinking beer, eating beans out of a can and hoping to catch fish (only to throw them back again).
So I thought son and I could do something 'nice' together. We'd had a strained relationship over the past 24 hours after I'd picked him up from an overnight stay at his grandparents and discovered that my father was now sporting a gash on his forehead sustained when a metal bucket full of sand was flung at him in protest of leaving the park that afternoon.
So it was a hot day and we went swimming. His lessons were cancelled for the holidays but as we were there at around the same time as his usual lesson a few of his friends from classes were there too. We had a great time jumping and splashing and racing up and down the pool. Time got on and '5 minutes more' was repeated several times. I could see he was tired and could barely hold his head above the water so I finally put my foot down and carried him out of the pool. Reaction: SCREAMS.
I quickly judged that the poolside showers would be no good as he'd simply run back to the pool - we'd been there before so I headed for the lockable cubicles. I don't know where my strength came from as he's now almost 3 stone and every time I resort to carrying him I end up with a bad back for a few days.
In the cubicle shower he yelled, repeatably, 'No not that one the other one' in such a wail that I'm sure the other people in the changing room were very intrigued as to what was going on.
And then it happened. I let him out of my grasp for a second and he unlocked the door bounded down the corridor, pushed open the heavy door into the pool area (that he'd previously never been able to open, even an hour beforehand), ran into the pool area and headed down the steps into the warer - COMPLETELY NAKED!
I didn't help matters as I ran after him shouting 'noooooooooo' (in my head we were all in slow motion) though I caught him before he actually jumped in and carried him back. He ceased crying for about 10 seconds when we put our swimwear in the spinner (a ritual that he obviously will hold to even mid tantrum) to dry. Then he started the 'I want a treat' rant which continued whilst we got dressed, out to the car and in the car until he fell asleep just before we got home. I kept my cool until we were home, woke him up and then I let rip.
So somewhere along the line someone will be calling social services but now I look back the sight of my 4 year old's bare behind as he made a dash for the pool was quite hilarious and most people in the pool were laughing. I don't think I'll be able to make the trip on my own again.
If only I could just kick back and disappear for a few days - though a spa with the girls beats sitting in a thunderstorm in the hope of catching a fish (which he did, by the way, so he's very happy).
My husband has escaped for a few days sitting by a lake, drinking beer, eating beans out of a can and hoping to catch fish (only to throw them back again).
So I thought son and I could do something 'nice' together. We'd had a strained relationship over the past 24 hours after I'd picked him up from an overnight stay at his grandparents and discovered that my father was now sporting a gash on his forehead sustained when a metal bucket full of sand was flung at him in protest of leaving the park that afternoon.
So it was a hot day and we went swimming. His lessons were cancelled for the holidays but as we were there at around the same time as his usual lesson a few of his friends from classes were there too. We had a great time jumping and splashing and racing up and down the pool. Time got on and '5 minutes more' was repeated several times. I could see he was tired and could barely hold his head above the water so I finally put my foot down and carried him out of the pool. Reaction: SCREAMS.
I quickly judged that the poolside showers would be no good as he'd simply run back to the pool - we'd been there before so I headed for the lockable cubicles. I don't know where my strength came from as he's now almost 3 stone and every time I resort to carrying him I end up with a bad back for a few days.
In the cubicle shower he yelled, repeatably, 'No not that one the other one' in such a wail that I'm sure the other people in the changing room were very intrigued as to what was going on.
And then it happened. I let him out of my grasp for a second and he unlocked the door bounded down the corridor, pushed open the heavy door into the pool area (that he'd previously never been able to open, even an hour beforehand), ran into the pool area and headed down the steps into the warer - COMPLETELY NAKED!
I didn't help matters as I ran after him shouting 'noooooooooo' (in my head we were all in slow motion) though I caught him before he actually jumped in and carried him back. He ceased crying for about 10 seconds when we put our swimwear in the spinner (a ritual that he obviously will hold to even mid tantrum) to dry. Then he started the 'I want a treat' rant which continued whilst we got dressed, out to the car and in the car until he fell asleep just before we got home. I kept my cool until we were home, woke him up and then I let rip.
So somewhere along the line someone will be calling social services but now I look back the sight of my 4 year old's bare behind as he made a dash for the pool was quite hilarious and most people in the pool were laughing. I don't think I'll be able to make the trip on my own again.
If only I could just kick back and disappear for a few days - though a spa with the girls beats sitting in a thunderstorm in the hope of catching a fish (which he did, by the way, so he's very happy).
Wednesday 16 July 2008
Four Birthday Parties and Five Cakes
For the few that follow me on Twitter you will be aware that I have been agonising over birthday parties for weeks. There is the added complication that my son decided to arrive 10 days late, on the day before MY birthday. Therefore we expect a lot of family involvement and toing and froing between grandparents. This year was different - my OH couldn't get out of work and when he mentioned 'helping' at the party to his mum she suddenly couldn't make the trip. Somehow we ended up with every conceivable type of party - four in all.
The first
Day of son's birthday - opened a few presents, took cake (number 1) to nursery so they had a little party. Picked him up at 11.30am (I thought to go straight out but it wasn't to be), went home because 'Auntie living in Australia' was on the phone, then spoke to Paternal Grandma, Great Auntie, Maternal Grandma, Paternal Grandad and then refused to speak to Maternal Grandad as he was too tired. Then we ended up in Toys'r'us because son refused to go to the cinema - he was then bribed with the largest Thomas toy he could find if he agreed to go to the cinema :-). We went to see Kung Fu Panda - luckily there were only 4 other people in the cinema so he wasn't too disruptive in his demands for sweets and trips to the toilet - he's quoted bits so I think he enjoyed it. Then a pizza and home to play with the expensive toy - does it surprise you that he was still awake at 10pm?
Minor catastrophe when discovered friend I was paying to do son's official party cake (number 2) couldn't finish it because her son was in hospital - so didn't cut the cake I'd made for the parties (yes 2!) the next day.
The Second
MY birthday - son was a bit put out and opened a few of my presents for me. Then he went to nursery whilst I had a short lie in and then flew around the house trying to toddler proof it for the 'yummy mummy' lunch. the phone didn't stop ringing and ended up with 9 mums and 13 children (from 8 weeks-4 years old) when I was only expecting 3 mums - I hadn't even met 2 of them before! As I opened the front door to the first car load the heavens opened so the plan to let the kids run round in the garden, quite literally, went out of the window. I ended up spending most of my time stopping the toddlers putting the educational fridge magnets in the kitchen bin, making endless cups of tea and cutting up healthy fruit. My OH had dashed out for an emergency sponge cake (cake number 3) and the friend who had been making one (a Lightning McQueen one no less) turned up with an apology and a chocolate Swiss roll. Thankfully her son is okay but he will have to have treatment for a few years so she got a hug rather than tears from me. I may have damaged my position in the yummy mummy group (or perhaps reinforced it) as when I was informed that the older children were upstairs eating toothpaste I replied 'at least their teeth will be clean'. My son has reliably informed me that it was HER daughter who started it. Needless to say I was dreading the mess but was pleasantly surprised when I finally ventured upstairs - despite toys being everywhere there were no disasters.
The Third
Had half an hour to clear away and relax before heading over to mums for MY birthday party. My Aunt and uncle, mum and dad and other aunt and her kids all had dinner together and it was a really nice evening. We were hanging around for my sister but she rang there at 8.30pm to say she'd not even left home - 190 miles away! It was nice and relaxed and mum spoilt me - even getting me a cake (number 4)!
The Fourth
The official party! At a big soft play centre, with food and a disco! I'd booked 10.30am (the 11.30am eating at 12.30pm slot had already gone). My sister hadn't arrived until 2am but she was up and came along to help - it wasn't needed (in fact mum, dad, my sister and her boyfriend sat on their comfy sofas and read the papers. In all there were 15 children and it cost me £130 - they had an hour on the equipment and then were marched around the place to go to the party room, the staff dished out the food and brought in the cake (yep number 5 - which should have been number 2) and then we went into the disco room where the staff led the games before (finally) they had another 15 minutes on the equipment before it was time to give out the party bags. They held onto the presents and even provided the party bags. (know we spent much more than that on our little party at home last year.
We then headed back to mums to open the presents and i left him there with Hannah to head off for my birthday surprise which was tadadadatadadaaa ... a night on a canal boat (floating hotel) in the centre of Sheffield. My OH had a hidden agenda as he really wants to have a canal boat holiday. I knew this so spent the whole time imagining our son careering around the boat rather than enjoying it for what it was. I also have a terrible cold and a hacking cough so every time I coughed I rocked the boat. I ended up having about 2 hours sleep and spending the rest of the time knitting in the living area. Ooh and pretending I didn't need the loo as that definitely wasn't a pleasant experience.
So another year older - and probably a stone heavier with all that cake! - and I think I'll book the soft play centre again next year, that's if 5 year olds are still into brightly coloured foam and slides ...
The first
Day of son's birthday - opened a few presents, took cake (number 1) to nursery so they had a little party. Picked him up at 11.30am (I thought to go straight out but it wasn't to be), went home because 'Auntie living in Australia' was on the phone, then spoke to Paternal Grandma, Great Auntie, Maternal Grandma, Paternal Grandad and then refused to speak to Maternal Grandad as he was too tired. Then we ended up in Toys'r'us because son refused to go to the cinema - he was then bribed with the largest Thomas toy he could find if he agreed to go to the cinema :-). We went to see Kung Fu Panda - luckily there were only 4 other people in the cinema so he wasn't too disruptive in his demands for sweets and trips to the toilet - he's quoted bits so I think he enjoyed it. Then a pizza and home to play with the expensive toy - does it surprise you that he was still awake at 10pm?
Minor catastrophe when discovered friend I was paying to do son's official party cake (number 2) couldn't finish it because her son was in hospital - so didn't cut the cake I'd made for the parties (yes 2!) the next day.
The Second
MY birthday - son was a bit put out and opened a few of my presents for me. Then he went to nursery whilst I had a short lie in and then flew around the house trying to toddler proof it for the 'yummy mummy' lunch. the phone didn't stop ringing and ended up with 9 mums and 13 children (from 8 weeks-4 years old) when I was only expecting 3 mums - I hadn't even met 2 of them before! As I opened the front door to the first car load the heavens opened so the plan to let the kids run round in the garden, quite literally, went out of the window. I ended up spending most of my time stopping the toddlers putting the educational fridge magnets in the kitchen bin, making endless cups of tea and cutting up healthy fruit. My OH had dashed out for an emergency sponge cake (cake number 3) and the friend who had been making one (a Lightning McQueen one no less) turned up with an apology and a chocolate Swiss roll. Thankfully her son is okay but he will have to have treatment for a few years so she got a hug rather than tears from me. I may have damaged my position in the yummy mummy group (or perhaps reinforced it) as when I was informed that the older children were upstairs eating toothpaste I replied 'at least their teeth will be clean'. My son has reliably informed me that it was HER daughter who started it. Needless to say I was dreading the mess but was pleasantly surprised when I finally ventured upstairs - despite toys being everywhere there were no disasters.
The Third
Had half an hour to clear away and relax before heading over to mums for MY birthday party. My Aunt and uncle, mum and dad and other aunt and her kids all had dinner together and it was a really nice evening. We were hanging around for my sister but she rang there at 8.30pm to say she'd not even left home - 190 miles away! It was nice and relaxed and mum spoilt me - even getting me a cake (number 4)!
The Fourth
The official party! At a big soft play centre, with food and a disco! I'd booked 10.30am (the 11.30am eating at 12.30pm slot had already gone). My sister hadn't arrived until 2am but she was up and came along to help - it wasn't needed (in fact mum, dad, my sister and her boyfriend sat on their comfy sofas and read the papers. In all there were 15 children and it cost me £130 - they had an hour on the equipment and then were marched around the place to go to the party room, the staff dished out the food and brought in the cake (yep number 5 - which should have been number 2) and then we went into the disco room where the staff led the games before (finally) they had another 15 minutes on the equipment before it was time to give out the party bags. They held onto the presents and even provided the party bags. (know we spent much more than that on our little party at home last year.
We then headed back to mums to open the presents and i left him there with Hannah to head off for my birthday surprise which was tadadadatadadaaa ... a night on a canal boat (floating hotel) in the centre of Sheffield. My OH had a hidden agenda as he really wants to have a canal boat holiday. I knew this so spent the whole time imagining our son careering around the boat rather than enjoying it for what it was. I also have a terrible cold and a hacking cough so every time I coughed I rocked the boat. I ended up having about 2 hours sleep and spending the rest of the time knitting in the living area. Ooh and pretending I didn't need the loo as that definitely wasn't a pleasant experience.
So another year older - and probably a stone heavier with all that cake! - and I think I'll book the soft play centre again next year, that's if 5 year olds are still into brightly coloured foam and slides ...
Monday 7 July 2008
The holidays are coming
I spent 3 1/2 hours in a fundraising meeting yesterday morning and I'm in charge of the children's craft stalls so I'll probably try making some of Sarah's play dough - there's a link at the end of her post to her book of play recipes which might come in handy over the school holidays.
So far today I've confiscated several games and threatened to cancel his birthday on Thursday and his party on Saturday (dangerous as I can't follow through) but tonight he was asleep before 9pm (he was still awake at 11pm on Saturday - despite being put to bed at 7!).
Tomorrow I am tackling the train cake - the air might be blue!
So far today I've confiscated several games and threatened to cancel his birthday on Thursday and his party on Saturday (dangerous as I can't follow through) but tonight he was asleep before 9pm (he was still awake at 11pm on Saturday - despite being put to bed at 7!).
Tomorrow I am tackling the train cake - the air might be blue!
Thursday 3 July 2008
letter to my son
This reminded me that I started something about a year ago. After hearing a great speech by Jenni Trent Hughes I decided to follow her suggestion of writing a letter to my son around his birthday each year.
A week from today my 3 year old will be 4 - where did the time go? At the moment his powers of argument and persuasion are trying at the best of times so it will be good to sit down and think positive thoughts about him and note them down. I'm currently reading this - which doesn't help.
A week from today my 3 year old will be 4 - where did the time go? At the moment his powers of argument and persuasion are trying at the best of times so it will be good to sit down and think positive thoughts about him and note them down. I'm currently reading this - which doesn't help.
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