Holidays with kids!

"children are the gifts we send to a time we won't see"

Now, that is the best description of an oxymoron that I have ever come across in my life! The word “Holiday” should never be linked with the words “children, babies, toddlers” unless you are at a fully catered hotel or have a caregiver or child minder along on holiday with you!!!

Why? Well, we never go away over the festive seasons (Easter, Christmas) – preferring the quietness of Sandton to the frenetic and mobbed coastlines of South Africa (usually jam-packed with Gautengers anyway!).

Our family made the exception in December 2005 and went down to my folks empty flat in Hout Bay, Cape – we have vowed “Never Again!” But…. Next year I think I am going to rescind my caregiver’s leave over Christmas, demand that my hubby gets more than 6 days leave, and ensure that we have more contact with kid’s holiday camps!

I love my kids, don’t get me wrong!  But with trying to manage getting leave from my office for the full school December/January period is impossible (don’t get that many leave days anyway!); do all the Christmas shopping, clean house, do laundry (I don’t do windows or ironing!), entertain the kids on a budget and have the rainiest season at the same time is a feat I would not like to do again in a hurry!

The kids were brilliant, in terms of helping clean up their rooms and toys and I was grateful to have spent so much time with them over the festive season, but their energy levels far surpass my own!

We learnt how to ride bikes (my son of 8 went on two wheels for the first time 3 days before Christmas!), play eyetoy – now that is the best indoor game for the entire family to do to get moving, sweating and laughing!  I’m even stiff from all the jumping and running you have to do! – the most exercise I have had in 3 years!).

We played leapfrog, hopscotch, hand soccer, cricket! We finger painted, rolled dough, made painted eggs, baked cupcakes. Swam in my parent’s pool, watched kids animated DVD’s, played monopoly, UNO, Barbies and cars – and binged on take-aways!

Doing housework after all that nearly put me into early retirement – houses don’t clean themselves! – So what did I do?  If I couldn’t see the table from the mess on top, I worked in another room.  If the beds weren’t made, we played on top of the mattresses.  If the dishes weren’t clean, we picnicked outside with paper plates.

So yep, holidays with kids is an oxymoron – but boy, did it open my eyes to enjoy the moment and ignore the chores for just that little while longer, and how not to “sweat the small stuff!”  Even my writing and work took a backseat.

My brother and his kids were over from New Zealand after Christmas, so a lot of our time was then spent going to places in Gauteng – Gold Reef City Theme Park (a waste of money!), World of Golf (great coffee & entertainment watching these cute guys with their cute butts wiggle!), Mimmo’s – great food and good kid pizza-making fun!)  The rest of the time, we lolled around the pool, had lots of food and enjoyed getting to know each other again!

Yes, I am glad to be back at work (in fact, I went back to work for a break!) but you know what? I would love to go back to my “Holiday time with kids”.  It’s taught me so much, but not as much as my kids have taught me – to love, to laugh, to take time to cuddle and play, and to let the small stuff take care of itself! How time with your kids, is an investment that gives the greatest return!

To my kids, Keanu and Tyla –I love you for who you are becoming and I am missing you terribly now that I have gone back to work and you have gone back to school!

To my hubby, Carl – so that’s what you look like during the daylight hours? Had almost forgotten……! (not really!)

Bring on the Easter Holidays!

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Bevskins xxx !!!

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