Slow Parenting

Well the summer holiday has ended for me as I go back to work on Wednesday. I wish I could have gone out more with the kids but they are Ok. We went to Standalone Farm which is a city farm.
The boys loved it and Son no1 said that he's having a wonderful holiday. The highlight of the visit was a trailer ride. A trailer with seats was attached to a tractor and it took us to a spot on the farm which was the highest point in Letchworth. This is my neighbouring Town which is really beautiful, the World's first Garden City. I will visit again with the kids before they go back to school. North Hertfordshire shines in summer time. Although we are landlocked its so beautiful and there are lots of outdoor pools to go to if it gets hot.
I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked this holiday but I'm looking forward to spending time getting to really know this place. There's a lot going on for kids. Plus the countryside is gorgeous. Its more expensive to do things here than in London but I really liked the free play initiative they have here, where they was actually a play scheme in various parks in Stevenage. So you could bring a picnic or snacks while the kids busy themselves with play and craft equipment. I spent a wonderful afternoon with baby and I under a canopy playing on the floor and the kids testing out some outdoor gym equipment. I only did a couple of days like this in the holiday but I could have done this every day.
One of the funny points of the holiday was the amount of times Son no 2 had his face painted. As he's quite dark skinned some of the designs he's had were so dramatic!
Kids are great, they get on your nerves they ask for a lot but need very little. Once my boys are out I'm the best mommy in the world. I love taking them to new places but I don't have to kill myself going to a different activity every day. It can be tempting to do that but I've had some of the greatest times doing some of the most boring things but then they turn out to be wonderful.
eg An uninteresting walk down a road with a lot of industrial buildings ended in a beautiful entrance to my central park. It was one of the greatest walks I've done with the kids as they walked 2 miles and we had a great time talking and bonding. I came across the park play scheme by accident. I had only planned to go to the town centre gardens as I had never been and then found there was a play scheme. I read a slow parenting magazine a couple of years back and it was saying how we shouldn't spend time accounting for every waking minute of a childs life. Activities and classes are good but nothing beats being with your kids and giving them time. Snoop Dog said the same thing so I must be right.
Peace out.