Amy do it!

'I'm 2 and i can cut my own food!! What could possibly be more exciting?' I'm sure every parent can ditto that. Toddler insists "I do it!" mom pleads, "no you can't, I'll help you", followed by hysterics because she wasn't allowed to do it. I'm still there a lot, but occasionally, years of reading up on various forms of education filter through my 'heat of the moment' brain, and tell me to step back, bite my tongue, gulp, and LET her do it. For a little bit. SUPERvised! Result: no injuries yet (touch wood), confident kids, a bit too independent, will eat anything they cut themselves (wink). Even toilet training went much better after i stepped back and let Amy do it herself, with steps up to the seat. (potties and I don't go together).

Mackay surrounds

Sugarcane train, we nicked a few for a taste:) Funny that locals don't eat them at all - only the end product, by the truckload (trainlaod?!).



















Banana tree

Don't talk to strangers?!

I was reminded of this phrase after an event in a playground. My friend and I were having a picnic lunch in a quiet park, 4 kids between us, when a man carrying a bottle walked past us, and stopped to talk, obviously drunk and trying to make a pass. We both ignored him and carried on, but the children watched him with interest and Danny (with his usual exuberance) responded and waved as he walked away towards his friends in the distance (also bottles in hand). My friend then told her children: "Remember I always tell you not to talk to strangers, see!"
I'm sure millions of parents out there tell their kids the same. What puzzles me is, how is a child supposed to know who a stranger really is? In this case a stranger who intends some harm to the child. Do we stop children from talking to everyone they don't know just because there is a ??? chance that one person may mean trouble? And if a person really does mean trouble, wouldn't they be smarter than that..... All I'm saying is I'm sure there's a better way to train children to be safe rather than the blanket statement "don't talk to strangers". Its hard enough getting basic courtesy from so many kids these days. What do you think?

Sand and tree house day

A visit to my friend Lotte's house is always a treat. First the scenic drive through canefields and farms, then the charming house on the hill, the eco-friendly, animal loving atmosphere and to top it off, a real tree house and sand pit to dig into - one amazing lady who has single handedly put it all together. This time, we took the sand pit experience to a whole new level. Amy was not to be seen for ages as she "cooked" and mixed the water from the drum (complete with tap), absolutely rolling in the sand and mud, making a brief appearance to claim a piece of dessert with sand-pie fingers! The joy of watching a child play with dirt is something i feel is sorely missing from life in concrete jungles. No toy can ever replace the thrill of 'getting your hands dirty' and do it without a stressed-out parent breathing down your neck to stay clean. And don't get me started on my early days, so filled with the simple joys of a truly splendid childhood - exploring the jungle( the real deal, west african style), digging out trenches in the yard with my partner in crime (little bro) and filling it with water, building cubby houses with branches, spending large chunks of my time perched up in an avocado tree reading.... Fast forward 20+ years later to today: my kids spend lots of time indoors, playing with toys, watching tv (a little bit;), lots of time being driven around - playgroups, shops, freinds homes, not a whole lot of time in nature, and little access to DIRT and carefree ways... One thing i can't really put on the shopping list..hmmm.












Great beach lifestyle here, this one is from a picnic at a park by the beach, with families of staff from Vahid's work - great bunch! Danny ended up in his togs after going for a swim fully clothed. His current best buddies on either side.