All my sons - all of the time

I always envied those celebrity mums who would say thing like, "I stay slim running around after my children." and "I make special time for each of my children every day." The latter is even more impressive because Angelina Jolie has six of them !

It has taken me time to work out how to do it, but I have finally got the hang of spending quality time with the boys. At first I did the same things with them both which invariably led to one of them being bored and unruly which spoiled it for the other one (and me). Now I make time to do thing with them individually and tailor the activities to what they love to do. It's been a journey of discovery that has reminded me they are similar, but different and of the value of one to one time.

Last week I took Blue Bear to the theatre to watch Ben and Holly's Magical Kingdom on stage at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley and he loved it. He sat nicely throughout the show and joined in when they asked the children to shout out, although he didn't want to sing the laughter song. At the end he said, "more Ben and Holly Mummy." and I explained that as the are little children they had to go home to go to bed just like he did. He was very upset that it was over. It's so different from the first time we took him to watch a show and when the lights went down he freaked out and didn't want to stay. We took him to meet Sooty, Sweep and Soo after the show, but I think Hubbie was far more impressed than the boys were.

Brown Bear is a different kettle of fish and enjoys nothing more than a day out doing fun stuff like visiting Daddy at work. We went to the Science Museum at the end of the Christmas holidays and as his office is right next door we popped in to see Hubbie for lunch. I have always taken Brown Bear into London and we usually go to the London Transport Museum as it's one of his favourites. In the past we've been ice skating, on a treasure hunt and on a boat trip on the Thames. I have already promised him some one to one time during half term when his brother is at half term camp. It's important to him that we get to do things just us.

Before we adopted Blue Bear everything was about Brown Bear and he loved being the centre of attention. In the summer holidays we would go out and visit the London Transport Museum once a week and visit parks almost every day. We'd go to rhyme time, gymboree and stay and play and he had the busiest schedule of any toddler I knew. I was careful not to overload Blue Bear in the same was as we didn't want to overwhelm him. Helping him settle into the family meant taking things at a pace that would suit him. Even though they absolutely love each other now the early days were pretty tough to negotiate.

We took both the boys to London and planned lots of fun things like an open top bus tour and a boat trip. They bickered and fussed the whole time. What we hadn't accounted for was that Blue Bear wasn't used to days out and Brown Bear had already done all of those things. We needed to do things differently. This is where we had to take them on one at a time. By having one each and giving them special attention they respond far better and we all have a nicer time. For Brown Bear's birthday we went to Legoland and we made sure both boys had a fantastic day. At times we split up and did things separately and then we came together as a family and had fun being trainee firefighters.

When it works it can be amazing. After all I don't have a nanny or a personal trainer to bail me out when I don't feel like being mum. What I do have is a wealth of ideas about how to have fun with my boys.

The day we went to space and still got home in time for tea

With the boys being at different stages of schooling Blue Bear went back to nursery a day earlier than Brown Bear went back to school. I decided that we could take advantage of this 'bonus day' and we went into London. I gave Brown Bear the choice of either going to the London Transport Museum (which he loves) or to the Science Museum in South Kensington. He opted for the latter as it's not one we go to often and I don't think he remembers when we've been before. 

The Science Museum, Natural History Museum and the V & A are all close together and are free, but they do suggest a donation amount. On this visit we found there were queues to get in as there are now desks where you go through security, make a donation and can buy a guide book or map. I guess the voluntary donation system didn't work so well and this is how they ensure better financial returns. The cloakroom is also chargeable with a per item cost and if you want to take part in some activities such as watching an imax movie you have to buy a ticket. Otherwise the general museum is still free - as it always was - and my boy really loved seeing the spacecraft and the suit that Helen Sharman wore. We also went ooh and aah at the transport exhibits such as Puffing Billy and Stephenson's Rocket. I was very conscious of the time so we went to the 3rd floor to explore some of the interactive exhibits. Brown Bear particularly enjoyed designing a space rover and testing it on tough terrain to see if it would survive on the lunar surface. It took quite a few tweaks to the design for it to work, but it was interesting to see how he learned from trying different shapes and wheel placement. 

Designing a space rover

I remember going to the Science Museum with my friend Neil years ago - before children - and we spent a whole day there and only managed to really explore one floor and maybe a bit of another. I was optimistic thinking we'd see much in only a few hours. Also, Hubbie works right next door so we had arranged to meet him for lunch and that was even more exciting for Brown Bear.  

I've always thought we're so lucky to live close to London and to have all the fantastic museums practically on our doorstep. Now that Brown Bear is older I can take him to the places that I've loved so much from my own childhood. As we walked back to the station we passed the ice rink in the grounds of the Natural History Museum and I reminded him that we went there a couple of years ago for a skating session and hot chococlate and he used a penguin to help him get round the rink. "I don't need one now Mummy, I can do it myself." I agreed with him. 

We passed a busker playing Get Lucky on the saxaphone and he said, "That's my song Mummy." I took his hand and said, "Yes it is." and thought how lucky I was to get this special extra day with my boy. 

A first trip to Legoland for my boy's birthday treat

We asked Brown Bear a while back what he'd like to do for his birthday and he replied - unequivically - that he wanted to go to Legoland. I realise that it may be bordering on negligent on our part that he has made it to 6 years old without going, but I think he's now at an age where he can truly appreciate it. I grew up 20 minutes drive from Windsor so we would go there regularly either to the safari park (where the monkeys would snap off your windscreen wipers - a sure sign they weren't happy in my book) or to see the castle long before they introduced an entry charge. 

Before we went I asked for some tips on what to do on our visit. Almost everyone said get there early and I can see why. Even on a rainy day in October the car park was heaving when we arrived. The other tip was to go to the very end and work back as it's a long walk at the end of the day otherwise. This proved to be a great bit of advice as there is so much to see and do that just doing a circuit to see what is where proved helpful in planning our visit. My lovely blogger pal Lou also said go to the Laser Raiders ride so we queued for it. It took a lot longer than I expected, but the boys really enjoyed shooting lasers at targets. I think if we go again I won't go for the long queues as we realised (afterwards) that the notice boards give you a heads up how long the queues are in the entire park. 

One of the things I really liked when we waited the longest was this kids area where Brown Bear sat and watched a lego movie while we stood in line. Blue Bear wasn't so keen to be left so we carried him instead. The queue management is pretty good on Laser Raiders, I guess because it's so popular. You can purchase ways to jump the queues, but as it was our first visit we decided not to. I think that was the right idea and on a future visit I would consider it, but we did so much I didn't feel the need on this occasion. 

Brown Bear was so excited when he saw that there is a fire academy in Legocity. We headed over there and both boys could hardly contain themselves when we got to take part. It is an exhausting activity, but we had such fun that I can heartily recommend it. 

After we'd been on some rides and put out fires we went to see Miniland. This is the bit of Legoland that I have always seen in photos and it's pretty breathtaking. Brown Bear loved London and Blue Bear ran around looking for the moving trains and boats. As the boys missed football to go to Legoland it was with great joy that they spotted a mini version of Wembley (the original one) and cheered on the match that was taking place. 

I had to share a photo of Covent Garden as it's such an iconic London location.  

This year is Legoland's 20th birthday and we were there to see a live show featuring Olly the dragon and his dance moves. The sun came out and we all had a bop along with him on the grass. 

As we were getting tired and wanted to get going we decided to make our way out, but Brown Bear spotted a sign for the Star Wars Miniland exhibit. I'm so glad we did as it is really impressive. Lego depictions of great battles from the movies and all the iconic characters take your breath away, but the most amazing is the Millenium Falcon and a Death Star that sent a chill down my spine. 

We didn't have the best weather as it was rainy and sunny in turns all day. This did result in the perfect end to our day though. A double rainbow. 

Disclosure: The lovely folks at Legoland gave us a family ticket for our day out. 

Fun in the New Forest

Since we've been parents our holidays have mostly been staycations. One reason is that I just can't face travelling through airports with small children. Even allowing for the long drive our trips to Cornwall take less time than the overall journey time to go to a mediterranean destination when you factor in the time you leave for the airport, the waiting, the flying and the transfer time. Another reason was that we couldn't travel with our youngest until his adoption was finalised so we have made the most of holidays closer to home. Finally - and most importantly - we have so many wonderful places to visit in this country and my in-laws live right next to one of them. The New Forest is a beautiful setting and we usually spend at least one week of the year here with Granny and Grandpa's house as a base. This week I've brought the boys to visit their grandparents for a few days before they go back to school next week. We've come without Hubbie so he also gets a bit of a break. 

The weather has been so lovely that we've enjoyed the great outdoors and today we visited the New Forest Wildlife Park - where Hubbie used to work as a teenager when it was the Butterfly farm. The park has grown and now has many animals as well as two adventure playgrounds for different age groups. Baby Boy loves animals so he really enjoyed seeing otters, bison, deer and polecats. He wasn't too taken with the butterflies, but they took a shine to Grandma and one sat on her top. There are specific times for feeding animals and you can meet the keepers and ask questions. At one point we spotted a keeper sitting on a bench holding a hedgehog in a towel and children were taking photos with it - all the while the hedgehog who was being safely held by a keeper. There is a strong conservation element to the park so visitors are encouraged to learn about the animals and their habitats. This is a great way for children (and adults) to appreciate the natural world while also enjoying a day out. 

Taking time to do some colouring 

After we enjoyed a picnic lunch the boys loved sitting down to colour in some animal pictures and the lady who was supervising the activity also shared some interesting facts about owls with us. Did you know it's only Tawny owls that say twit twoo ? I'm not sure the rest of what she told us was true, but it made the boys laugh. Big boy isn't as much of a nature lover so he was persuaded to come when we told him there was an adventure playground. There are actually two with a mini one designated for children under 6 and another larger playground for children over 6 (and adults). Despite running up to get on it Big Boy was a bit put off by the speed of the zip wire - although I saw a little girl in an amazing floofy white dress who looked like a supercharged angel as she zipped past ! Grandma and I decided to take the boys to their respective playgrounds and it was great fun for me to do a bit of daredevil stuff with Big Boy. Baby Boy did some pretty brave climbing too ! 

My climbing boy 

The best thing about staying near the New Forest is that most trips take you through the forest itself and you never know which of the animals that live there you will see roaming around. Before we had kids I was always amazed to spot cattle lying on verges in Beaulieu, horses and ponies crossing the roads wherever they feel like and grouse running past the car. On our drive home we spotted horses with their foals and lots of cows with their youngsters too. Baby Boy even wanted to get out of the car to take a look and said hello to the cows. It was the perfect end to a lovely day in nature. 

Look Mummy, cows 

Plan your visit and find out more about what you can see and do at New Forest Wildlife Park 

Hey Hey we're the Monkees... visiting London on a budget

I took Brown Bear into London today to watch a movie called Blinky Bill - it's out in on 19th August and features a young koala (Blinky) who leaves home in search of his father and has a few hair raising adventures on the way. We loved it and for the first time in my life I'm actually interested in visiting Australia. The screening room at Soho House is very posh and we did feel quite spoiled with the luxury seating and side tables as well as a foot stool with storage for bags and coats. As we were so close to it I decided to take him to the London Transport Museum as well. We are 'friends of the museum' so we have an annual membership that we really do make the most of. I can recommend getting the family membership as you can visit as often as you like and you don't have to queue to get in. It also includes a discount on food in the cafe and gifts in the shop. I try to steer clear of the shop, but it's pretty much inevitable with kids isn't it ?

I used to avoid going into London during the summer holidays as it can be so busy. When I worked near Covent Garden I would notice the crowds of tourists and those irritating 'living statues' all over the place too. I understand that it can be difficult to find your way around and with children in tow keeping an eye on them becomes a full time occupation. Why do families insist on walking on the pavements side by side though ? Are they in a boy band ? I think the least you can do if you're going to incovenience every other pedestrian is to make it interesting. Do the can-can, walk like the Monkees did in the opening credits to their show, vary your speeds to make it look like a wave. Anything, just don't take up the entire pavement please.

I would recommend if you're going into London during the holidays plan ahead to make the most of your time there. It is possible to do plenty without spending a fortune so I can suggest a few things to make the most of your trip that are free or cheap.

Travel: 

For a start use the buses as much as possible. Once you've got an Oyster or a travelcard your travel is capped for the day so you may as well make the most of it. You will see so much more of London from a bus and if you see something you like you can hop off. Travelling on the tube doesn't really give you any feel for how close places are so unless you are going a long distance I'd say buses are the way to go. If you have a couple of days you can buy a 48 hour ticket for the Big Bus Tour which includes a trip on a Thames River Cruise, night tour and a free child ticket, so you get plenty for your money. We love taking the open top sightseeing bus as you can get on and off at many points on the way and last time me and Hubbie took the night bus tour which was great - not least because we left the kids at home for that one ! If you fancy a bit of a nostalgia trip you can also ride the heritage bus route 15 which takes you from Trafalger Square to Tower Hill on weekdays and the fare is included in your travelcard / oyster payment.

2 for 1 days out: 

There are leaflets in stations offering 2 for 1 on a lot of attractions so long as you used a train ticket to get into London. Having a travelcard will often suffice to get the offer and it also includes restaurants so you can get discounts on meals too. The participants vary from year to year so do check here for details: 2 for 1 days out guide  We have used this offer on the Duck Bus which is an amphibious vehicle that takes a tour by road then drives into the Thames and continues with a boat ride along to Westminster. It is great fun ! We've also had a 2 for 1 discount at Vinopolis (strictly for adults only that one) before it closed at the end of last year and the Tower Bridge Exhibition. It does really help make your money go further having the discount.

Free Museums: 

If you fancy some culture then head to South Kensington where you have the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum all in close proximity. They are all free to enter and can get very busy in the holidays, but I guarantee your kids will be worn out by the time you leave ! I always allow for a longer visit to one museum and a short hop to another. That way you have a reason to leave and a change of scene before going home. There are cloakrooms where you can stash pushchairs and bags - some are free others charge a small fee. It's a good idea to put your stuff in there so you can enjoy your visit unencumbered, but I do still carry water and a snack or two for my boys. The Imperial War Museum is a little further afield in South London, but also free and well worth a visit.

Parks and the great outdoors: 

We love being outdoors and if you are lucky enough to have great weather being in London can be amazing. Hyde Park is massive with so many different areas to explore and the Serpentine lake in the middle. I love walking through Green Park with it's bridges and ducks which Blue Bear is a big fan of. Kensington Gardens is close to the museums and Regent's Park has an outdoor theatre (not free). If you fancy venturing a bit further out Battersea Park also has a boating lake, a sports centre and a small zoo (fees vary). You can hire bikes to ride around the park, enjoy a large play area and there is an impressive Buddha statue on the riverside. The fountains are great fun on a hot day, but you will need to bring a towel and maybe a change of clothes if you get carried away. Clapham Common is the site of many outdoor events including free cinema screenings and one day music festivals. We used to go to the Ben & Jerry's Big Sundae here, which sadly is no more. If you are prepared and bring a picnic you can spend a whole day in one of the parks without spending much at all. I'd budget for ice creams, but you won't need much else.

The holidays can be so expensive, but a day out in London doesn't have to break the bank. I hope you try some of the ideas above. I'd love to hear how you get on.