August 2009 - Posts
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Verulamium Park this time of year is a mishmash of the young
and old, football playing and wheelchair and pushchair bound. You never know
what you might see and who you will encounter.
Baby Fifi enjoys looking at the ducks, whilst the toddler positively wills
the men with their remote control boats to appear. They usually do on a
few Saturday's each year. However, its nice to do something differnent.
So, this week, we ventured a bit further afield to Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn Garden City. The idea was to try to satisfy the toddlers desire to see row-row boats. This has emerged following our annual holiday seaside holiday. What a nautical delight the place was. Not only were there rowing boats to look at, but a fully fledged sailing club. We stood on the very accessible banks of the lake looking at Toppers and Mirrors racing around the lake. I thought the toddler would explode with happiness and the baby seemed pleased to see all the sparkly colours. Stanborough lakes also seem to attract a large number of fishermen, we saw one man catch a large fish and then put it back into the water. We ate lollipops, ran around the play area and stood about a metre from a Comorant! All in all, well worth a visit.
I think this will result in a lot of debate, but can I make an appeal to dog owners?
Please do not ask my toddler if they would like to stroke your dog. This must happen to us about two or three times a week. I find it a very awkward situation. As a parent, I know that I am not alone in this way of thinking. There are a number of reasons;
Although I do not want my children to be scared of dogs, I also do not want them to feel that they can approach any dog that they see out and about without consideration. I want them to have a healthy respect for animals. We have friends and family members who have dogs. My children can play with those animals to get a bit of confidence around dogs.
I also would like to create a bit of awareness in my children that they should not do what strangers say to them. As not all strangers are acting out of kindness.
Thirdly, I quite often give my children snacks whilst we are out and about. Sometimes I cannot easily wipe their hands after they have stroked your sometimes wet and muddy animal.
To the woman in Verulamium Park who was extremely rude to me when I attempted to request that she didn’t come up to my toddler and virtually demand that he stroke her dog;
My toddler did not have the slightest inclination to stroke your dog, being a shy and quiet little fella he was intimidated by you. Please have some consideration and respect. We were feeding the ducks and playing. We were happy in our own world. Moments like this are rare and precious enough. Although you meant your intrusion as a kindness, it spoiled our moment and my memory of this day will now be tainted by your annoyance with me. I did not ask you to intrude into our world. I did not ask for your opinion or interference. I fear you may have done more damage than good.
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Today we took a trip to a certain local playground. I had visions of a happy time for my toddler and his friend, playing with other children, enjoying the slide and the swings in the sunshine. So, it’s the school holidays, but, this is a toddler-focussed playground. We should be safe there.
Think again, the toddler and his friend are lucky to escape without injury. We were confronted with hoards of parents sitting at benches chatting to eat other whilst their teenagers and 'older infants' literally terrorised the toddlers. At one point, I looked at my boy smiling innocently enough, then I looked up above him. To my absolute horror there was a child sliding across the roof of the baby slide which is probably at least 8 ft up. I looked around; all I could see was a woman looking at this in a really non-chalant manner. What does one do? As much as toddler boy would like to see the air ambulance, I don't think he would like to experience a ride in it in agony after he is flattened. I could feel my bad mood building. I wasn’t the only one, one mum I spoke to was also getting most annoyed.
We tried the swings, I decided that the toddler slide and climbing frames were far too dangerous with the big kids abusing them. This was traumatic as well, the toddler was happy enough, however, one family thought that it was an acceptable game to let their young teenager ride his scooter behind toddler boy in the few seconds when he was closer to me, than them. I pondered who might come off worse and hoped it was the teenager. Then, a family with yet another young teenager appeared next to us. Apparently, it was acceptable to let the teenager stand on a swing and lean about on it whilst their little one had a go on another swing. Not good, and bad manners when there is a queue of toddlers patiently waiting.
Being British, I restrained myself from saying anything. I just silently fumed. We left early. Funnily enough, as we strolled around the park I saw lots of slightly disappointed toddlers and a lot of parents with strained looks. Summer in the city can be difficult.
"Uh oh! No!" The toddler has just spotted that the last piece of paper has finally been used up. There are no more scribbling possibilities as doing graffiti on the walls is a banned activity following The Black Crayon Incident. We must venture out. Going outside is a veritable feast of organisation and re-organisation with a toddler and baby. You need a pushchair, a mountain of nappies, wipes and little plastic bags to put them in. Heaven forbid you forget to take the appropriate drinks, snacks and a change of clothes. Just in case.
I’ve been researching the education activities at museums local to St Albans and we are in luck. Mill Green Museum is running a bread-making drop-in session. We love going to Mill Green as it’s a small friendly welcoming place. Perfect for toddlers to run around and enjoy. I can also easily manage to move the baby in the pushchair and park the car. Two of my recent concerns.
When we arrive at Mill Green, there are lots of people standing in the road directing traffic. I assume it’s the gas board or British Telecom doing something, as its such a quiet little place. No, its actually people directing the parking for the bread-making. It appears that between 350 and 500 people regularly attend these sessions. So much for my easy morning.
An hour or so later, the toddler is happily running about the garden at Mill Green eating his freshly made ‘bunny rabbit roll’. The sun is shining and all is right in the world. Yes, there were lots of people, but there was also plenty of space, lots of dough to go around and a general atmosphere of small children having the time of their life. That certainly beats staying in and fighting over the crayons.