I’m 10 days into being at home every day with the Tsunamis and I’m a quivering wreck.
Oh, okay then. Maybe not a wreck, but I’m quivering.
What on earth do I do with these fireballs of energy all day? Activities, I can do. We’ve done beach, lagoon, pool, beach, zoo, putt-putt golf (dear god, we did putt-putt golf) and parks. It’s this ‘at home’ business I can’t get my head around. I mean, we all have to be at home sometimes, right? Right?
They won’t watch much tv (believe me, I’ve tried) and they are really, really fast painters. In fact, they do everything at speed so activities I think will be good for an hour or more are over in 5 minutes flat. I feel like my days are permanently stuck on fast forward while they break the land-speed for playdohing and then they hit the pause button and just watch me.
“What are you doing, Cappers?”
“I’m watching you, Mummy.”
“Wouldn’t you rather play with your dolls?”
“No.”
I’ve tried booting them out the back door and telling them to come in when it starts to get dark. But even I know that I’m pushing my luck when it’s 7am and they’re, you know, 2 years old. Maybe if it wasn’t daylight savings?
[Image via weheartit – please let me know if you know where it came from]
Rachel says
Sorry I’m not laughing..hard here it is just a little giggle..out of relief that I’m not the only one feeling like this… what do you do with them all day everyday… there is only so much I know…
we have covered all crafts… used most Christmas presents… took photos been on walks and its cold here so walking isn’t much fun…
I say drink vodka and pray
Oh a happy note mine went back to school today … when do yours go back?
Miss Ruby says
Hard manual labour in the backyard?
Need some weeds pulling? Garden beds turned over?
This has two pluses…
1. It gets YOU out of garden work
2. It SHOULD tire them out, which will allow you time to indulge in drinking while they sleep
Good luck!
~x~
Frog, Goose and Bear says
Oh I hear you, I hear you! It always surprises me what does actually capture their attention. My two year old spent over half an hour today at the kitchen sink with bubbles and her plastic tea set standing on a chair doing the dishes. Water everywhere, but at least she was being entertained.
A trip to the library helped for a few days with a huge pile of books along with some books on CD if that helps! They are all so different though aren’t they, from one minute to the next even. What works one day will not work the next, it can work in reverse though too…
All the best! Do pass on anything that works won’t you!
Michelle says
Thanks for following my blog I’m following yours too! Holidays with kids hey, well I’m not a Mum so I dont know from experience but the first thing that comes to mind is suggest they sleep over a friends place ๐
Mrs Woog says
It will take a day or two, but drag the toybox outside, with a few rugs and some cushions and say “Make a cubby house” then retreat inside. Make inside as boring as you can and they will come up with games to amuse themselves outside. TRUST ME. No eye contact. xoxo
Mrs BC says
Every kid is different so it’s sometimes hard to accomodate everyone. Teenage daughter spent hours building fairy houses in the garden, reading & drawing. (no fairy houses these days!) The boys need more action, sadly. Sms other mums & suggest a playdate at the park. The kids will be happy to catch up with thier friends & you get to chat with the other mums – double bonus. I also encourage their imagination for outside games – make believe, dress up, etc..Your local council might be running some kid centric classes or workshops.Good luck, it’s only another 3or 4 weeks now isn’t it? *grits teeth, manic stare*
Mrs BC
xx
Design Elements says
the quote is great! happy new year! may all your wishes come true in 2011!
@jencull (jen) says
I have been known to bribe my littlies with chocolate and go hide in the utility room! I am all out of ideas at the moment so that is my pathetic offer of ideas! Jen
The Clip Cafe says
I am lucky mine do seem to amuse themselves and keep each other company a lot. I love the way you have written this post though **smiling** Idea’s???? Hmmm i am not that good with them – I hate cooking with them (OH THE MESS!!), It’s too hot for walks and bike rides (here anyway), I don’t like them on the computer too long even if it is educational, Umm what about treasure hunts??? like all day ones lol!? Swimming wears our energy and some times we even get a afternoon nap (YAHOO!!).
EmmaK says
Well we moved into a new house with a large basement so the pair of them are mainly down there arguing mostly but also playing imaginary games. Like sometimes they pretend to be mimes and the other day one was a midwife and the other one was giving birth to a stuffed koala bear. It is worse here right now because it is so cold they won’t go outside! Good luck and keep taking an afternoon voddie xx
Jana @ The Summer House says
We have always had “room time” since my kids dropped their morning naps. They played in their rooms alone and had to stay there. It shifted to the afternoon when they dropped their afternoon nap.
Get out a box of toys-set a timer (and or music) where they can see it and let them know that they need to stay in their room and play until the music ends. If they are not used to this…start with 15 minutes and work up to 1 1/2-2 hours hours depending on their age.
It not only saved my sanity but it helped them be happy by themselves and to get creative playing alone.
My teenagers still retreat to their rooms in the afternoon to sleep or spend some time alone.
Jana
kasiabear says
Oh I hear your pain!! We’re running out of ideas too..
We’ve done the playdough.. Painting.. Drawing. Crafts.. Trampoline.. Swings.. Park.. Telly (thanking my friends fir introducing bindi into the house).. We got all the tents out and dragged them outside.. Each piece of riding equipment is out scattered around the back yard.. Each friend has been paid a visit.. Going to bunnings today to invest in a fresh bag of sand for the sand tray.. Fingers crossed!!
Xx
The Clip Cafe says
just found this http://www.wonderwomanwannabe.com/2010/09/best-gift-you-can-give-your-child.html
Lucy says
What Mrs Woog said.
Seriously.
Cate says
How brave are you feeling? Planning Queen says we need to learn to let our kids be bored, and figure it out for themselves.
Reckon there’ll be any house left when you’re finished trying out *this* suggestion?? (or vodka for that matter!!)
xxxCate
MultipleMum says
It is just the two year olds that are driving me nuts. The other two seem to be amusing themselves nicely. How about a playdate with the cousins??? We tried calling yesterday but you must have been at the beach ๐
Notchka says
Aaaaah fruit picking? Does your local council/church run a holiday programme? Bucket of water and kitchen implements in the back yard (I have to police her actually bring it inside though). When I get really desperate I let her into my wardrobe….she loves shoes. What can I say – it must be nature not nuture?
Dorothy says
Farked if I know. Vodka seems like a good back up plan while you watch them get bored and figure out something themselves.
the rhythm method says
I find changing things around – furniture, rearranging toys – always seems to inspire my kids to play in different ways. They discover toys they have forgotten about, think of new ways to play and that stretches the amount of time they play on their own.
The other thing that my 2 year old likes is water – I let him “do dishes”, play with a water wheel outside. He could spend hours just tipping water from cup to bucket to jug. Like meditation for midgets.
Good luck. x
Posie Patchwork says
My 4 are homebodies, even when there were 4 under 4.5 years, they have always been very easy to entertain indoors or back then – in the courtyard of our townhouse. They love craft, painting, play dough, leaves, painting the back fence with a bucket of water with food colouring & a pastry brush – there are limitless free things for them to do at home. Ask them what they want to do, making baking an afternoon treat an activity for them. I love school holidays, now my guys range from year 7 to year 2 i still LOVE being at home with them in school holidays, they are just a bit more upscaled like using sewing machines, board games, baking, Wii, swimming & bike riding. My mantra, only boring children get bored, so they are not allowed to utter that horrible word of ‘bored’. Make them play with each other too, then time alone in their own rooms with their own toys. Good luck!! Play dats also work a treat, love Posie
Bec says
hahahaha I love the speed activities, my tow are exactly the same! Instead of doing just playdough fr 20 mins we do playdugh, painting, sprinkler/hose runnig. My two also dont watch tv, they end up wrestling instead. I find having my day planned theday before works well, generally what I find works best for us most (some?) days is walk in the morning (neighbourhood or bush), morning tea, activity – playdough ect, outside play, lunch/ baking, rest time, movie/book/reading, afternoons are more of a struggle for me as they go a little more feral than usual so I am usually counting down until their dad coes home! It is chaos, and we do it everyday so I know how you feel ๐
Wendy says
I’m a huge fan of library visits. We check out all the nearby ones…and leave with armloads of books on CD. Also get a lot of mileage out of sand/rice/water play, and giving them a couple of cans of shaving cream and chucking them in the tub.
A Farmer's Wife says
I so identify with this. I am failing the uber mum holiday test. We go back to the beach soon so am counting the days.
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year
xx
Stacia says
We go round and round in an activity circle … painting, stamping, gluing, fighting, painting, stamping, gluing, fighting … Throw in an occasional game of sticker-your-sibling and it’s bedtime. Hallelujah (with vodka on top)!
WallFry says
My oldest is 2 so at the moment he is entertained following me around watering the garden for 20 minutes (stopping off to fill up his little watering can of course).
Can’t wait for them to grow up into the unentertainable… no really.
Life In A Pink Fibro says
It’s all about Lego over here. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The makers of Lego deserve the Nobel prize for Peace. Peace for Parents.
Corinne โ Daze of My Life says
Mrs Woog has got it right. You have to leave them to it and they’ll eventually get the idea. You’ll find they have a ball once their imaginations get going.
Good luck!
Maxabella says
This is why I love blogging. I’m now full of ideas AND full of the feeling that I’m not alone. Thank you all!!!! x
_vTg_ says
A friend recently commented (I take no credit for her wut other than by association)- “holidays are when your working mother’s guilt becomes working mother’s relief.” I muttered that to myself several times after Christmas!
Fiona says
Thanks for visiting my blog and your lovely comment!
Sorry! I have no idea how to entertain the kids … I assume giving them the vodka is illegal? Just a thought!! Can you tell I don’t have any kids of my own!?!
Kelly says
Sounds like you could use an “Uncle Leon” in your house. He stayed with us for just over a week and entertained my children the whole time. He had to fly back to New Zealand two days ago and I need him back!
Stacy of KSW says
Our days seem just about the same lately. I have resorted to daily races where I cheer my kids on as they do laps around the cul-de-sac. So glad they haven’t caught on yet. I’ve found letting them scribble masterpieces on my glass patio door with washable markers takes up a nice bit of time. Then I treat them with a spray bottle of vinegar and some newspapers and let them go to town cleaning. I’ve even “taught” my kid about chemical reactions by pouring baking soda in my stainless steal sink, then adding vinegar to watch the bubbles. Left him with a scrub brush and he shined my sink for half an hour. Hoping they don’t wise up too quickly, I’ve got BIG plans for gardening play time this summer …
Thanks so much for the comments on my blog, you are beyond sweet and I’ve got a follow up email headed your way ๐