Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas and Santa fulfilled all of yours and your kids wishes. T left a plate of cookies and a glass of milk out for Santa before he went to bed last night and when he woke up this morning it was all gone and in it's place were loads of wrapped up gifts and presents.  He got his one request from Santa, a Buzz Lightyear talking toy and he was thrilled to bits. He hasn't stopped playing with it all morning so I hope he watches the movie box set of 'Toy Story', which he also received for Christmas so I can get a minute or two to myself and to make some phone calls before the day is over. Enjoy your Christmas wherever you are celebrating!

5 more sleeps to go

Been quite for a while on here since our return from the States not because there is nothing to write but rather we are getting stuck in all the fun and activities as we approach Christmas. So far we have been to about 3 parties and T has had the pleasure of meeting 4 Santa Clauses.
Yesterday we went to Harrods to see a friend and also grab a bite to eat. Afterwards we paid a visit to Winter Wonderland where T had a field day screaming his head off in excitement as he went on ride after ride. Not too long now until Santa arrives from the North Pole with all the presents.

Flight chaos/Back home

Wow! What a journey. But we are glad to be home. After our flight cancellation three days ago, we turned up at the airport the next day only to be told our flight was delayed and because we had a connecting flight to make we had been transferred to another airline. As a result we were rushed off our feet as our flight was leaving earlier than anticipated and did not get the proper time to say goodbye to the family. Instead of connecting in Philadelphia, we found ourselves flying to Atlanta to connect onward to London. The worst part was we had reserved a taxi to wait for us in London a what was now a different terminal, luckily that was rectified by sister-in-law while we were en-route. I wish I could say T was as good as he was on our outbound flight but unfortunately he wasn't. He was tired, grumpy and miserable; thankfully he was able to sleep for a few hours while we crossed the Atlantic. I on the other hand could not.
We landed in London yesterday morning and are beyond jet-lagged right now. Holiday is over. Back to reality.

Grounded

OK maybe I spoke too soon earlier because we are still in New York. Just as we were ready to leave for the airport, I checked our flight status and our flight was cancelled due to bad weather south of the area. Oh well, we are not complaining.

Time to head back home

Sadly our time in New York has now come to an end and it is time to pack our bags and head back home to England. We had so much fun with the family here and it is hard to imagine where all the time went; it just seem to whizz by. T is not thrilled at the prospect of  leaving but he is dealing with it well enough. On our second day here, he actually told me he loves New York and hates London: I suppose because of all the cousins he has to play with here. Hopefully the excitement and buzz in the run up to Christmas will be enough to cheer him up when we get back home. We hope to be back here again very soon.

Still buzzing like a bee

Some quick computer time! T's christening and my wedding went well in case you are wondering. It was a small event and close friends and family members were there to help share in our joy and celebrate; we all had such an amazing time. Poor T was so exhausted from all the activities and having to smile the whole time for the camera, he actually fell asleep with me carrying him at some point.
We still haven't had anytime to sit still and are getting ready to head to the zoo as I type. I hope T has a good time because it is cold and the ground is all covered in snow which fell last Saturday at the moment.

Busy bee

Been so busy since Thanksgiving. Had two birthdays yesterday and tomorrow have a christening and a wedding to attend. T's christening and my wedding...Good God give me strength because I am tired and the running around has been non-stop since we got here.  Anyhow gotta run!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoying our stay here in New York and waiting patiently for all the food later. In the meantime T and I would watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade. I wish we had a spectacle as big as it in the UK... sigh!

Indulging in snowy activities

Hello from New York state where T  is having a whale of a good time. It snowed here a couple of days ago, not London snow, I am talking proper snow. It all started as a small dusting the day after we arrived. T was loving it praying and asking for more big snow so he can go out sledding and build a snow man with his cousins. And his prayers were certainly answered because it snowed heavily overnight and he had tons of fun playing in the snow this afternoon. Now if he could just get himself up the slope the next time instead of asking me to ferry him. All the same it was quite an experience.

His first flight

T embarked on his first trip on an airplane last week and he was exceptional throughout the 8 hour flight. He smiled at everyone through check-in, sat in his seat without much fussing, ate the in-flight meals without much prompting and even took a 2 hour nap at one point. Upon our landing he was getting compliments left, right and centre. 'Oh wow I didn't know you had a toddler with you there', an older lady commented. 'He was extraordinarily quiet throughout that flight'. Let's just say I wasn't the only one that was impressed.

When T met Santa at Harrods

T went to see Santa at Harrods on Thursday and it was quite an experience. As soon as he saw the grotto and the Christmas decorations, he went absolutely nuts jumping up and down and grinning widely. When he met Santa, he walked up and said hi before requesting Woody (from Toy Story) for Christmas; he always told me he wanted Buzz but hey. I have to say I was well and truly impressed by the whole experience, it was well organised, we didn't have to wait long, and our Santa was as pleasant, believable and magical as ever. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Spice boy

T has a thing for spice. Given the choice between tomato ketchup and Sriracha, the latter always win. The surprising part is when I put it on his plate, he just doesn't just dip his food into it and lick it off, he actually scoops it up fast with a spoon and then asks for more.

Christmas came early

It certainly felt like Christmas came early in our household on yesterday when our Social Worker and good friend visited to present T with some presents for his trip abroad in the next few weeks. I was unaware he was bringing a gift and while out shopping earlier, I had purchased a pair of wellies in T's favourite colour (yellow) and TV character (Spongebob) which I was hoping to surprise him with when I got home. So when later in the evening T was presented with both items he could not contain his joy and excitement. It certainly felt like Santa had decided to visit early this year.

His first trip abroad

Finally after over a year of deliberation, we are going abroad on our first proper holiday away from home together as a family. We are flying over to the States to see relatives and everyone is so excited. It will be T's first time meeting the extended family as well as travelling in an airplane and he is so excited about the whole experience he has been screaming wildly at every plane that flies past us in the sky for the past few weeks. I hope he keeps the excitement and enthusiasm going especially on the long flight there because the last thing I want to be dealing with at 40,000ft locked up in a tube is a grumpy toddler.

Time to kick out his picky eating habits

I have so had it with T's eating habits. He has always been a bit of a picky eater from day one and I had always thought in time his appetite would improve and he would start to eat a lot more of the food we put in front of him. We eat quite a diverse range of food and cuisines; Italian, Mexican, Indian, African, Northern American, Thai, Chinese, vegetarian... you name it! I wouldn't say T was keen on any type of cuisine in particular however he always finished his plate of rice, pasta, couscous and chips whenever we made those. Lately however the story has changed and his eating habits have gone from bad to worse. Now the only item in his plate he ever seems to finish is chips, oh and not forgetting a bland Nigerian staple called garri which I introduced him to a few months ago. These days when we make pasta or couscous he is too busy picking out the extras added in to give it flavor he pretty much doesn't eat any of the food. He doesn't like any kind of red meat. He doesn't like fish at all. He doesn't like chicken. He doesn't like potatoes unless it's chips or crisps; jacket or mash potatoes are vile as far as he is concerned. He used to like raisins but these days he doesn't. He doesn't care much for toast and if I dare put anything on his toast in the morning without consulting him, I am taking a chance I might regret. He hates mayonnaise with a passion. His eggs have to be boiled (never fried) and the yolk removed. Depending which way the wind is blowing he'll eat corn or certain leaf salads. Broccoli and cauliflower have to be sauteed and retain their crunchiness otherwise it's a no. I could go on and on but I won't. Anyways today he barely touched his breakfast, lunch and dinner and after each one he had the nerve to ask for a treat or dessert which always comprises of an after meal yogurt or mini chocolate bar. He has been doing this for quite a while and had managed to turn meal times into a battle of if you eat then you can have dessert and before you know it we are still sitting at the table an hour later with me begging him to swallow the food in his mouth and him screaming at me not to take the plate away when I have just about had enough because he is still eating.  Anyway tonight I realised enough is enough after yet another meal time where I am sitting with a spoonful in hand waiting  for him to finish the mouthful he had been chewing for almost 10 minutes. I marched him down from the dinner table, took him into the kitchen, pulled out his bag of treats and desserts and told him to wave bye bye to them because that's all he ever seems to want to eat when in fact they are not the food he needs to grow and develop. He didn't think I am serious of course but he'll see. From now onward when he asks me for a treat, I will thrust a bowl of raisins, nuts or dried fruits in his hands. He can still have his favorite Petits Filous chocolate or vanilla yogurt of course, those are full of calcium and milky goodness. But instead of the mini-chocolate bars, he will now get offered a choice of fruit. That way if he still doesn't eat he can at least get the nutrients he needs from the fruit. That's right, I am going commando on him until he sorts out his non-eating at meal time ways. When he starts eating, then the treats can return.
Before anyone judges me as mean, let me explain where I am coming from. I grew up in a country and culture where food was valued and respected. Though my parents weren't poor, they didn't have the luxury of Western standards either and food was limited to mealtimes only. We had no snacks or treats in between meals so when I had food in front of me, I knew to eat it because if I didn't I would  have to go hungry until the next meal. I was one of the lucky few that knew the next meal will eventually come, some of my peers who lived just a few houses away weren't so lucky. The whole idea of fussy eating was alien to me back then as was the idea of having coke or orange juice during every meal. We had lukewarm water and at least I can say my water was pure unlike some of my friends down the same street. Coke, orange juice, dessert after food... all that was saved for when the rich neighbours were throwing a party and we were invited; not very often. So when I'm trying my best putting diverse types of food in front of T and he wouldn't eat 98% of them, I am thinking he is not hungry enough or he only wants to eat junk food. Poor thing doesn't understand how lucky he is and I cannot blame him because he is too young to process what is good and what is bad but I can guide and empower him to make the better choice. There is nothing like a fussy eater as far as I am concerned. What there is, are people who have a wide choice of food to eat but are too picky about what they eat. No one is born a picky eater, parents create picky eaters by giving their kids that option. It is simple, if you are starving and there is nothing else to eat, you will eat whatever is available, end of discussion.
Anyways back to the point of this post, If T is hungry I will gladly give him an apple or a banana. The days of him telling me he is hungry and he doesn't want an apple but he wants a bag of crisps and me indulging him are so over. When he nags me now I will remind him of the time he didn't eat his scrumptious dinner and I made him wave goodbye to his bag of treats. If I give him an apple and he doesn't want it, then he can go hungry until that apple will do or until the next meal time. Being mean to your child to teach them a good lesson comes with being a parent. I would be doing him a disservice otherwise.

Halloween

We had such a fabulous Halloween this year thank heavens. Aside from the usual pumpkin carving, T had his friends over for a kiddie Halloween themed party and it was so much fun.
After the fiasco that was last year that saw no one knocking on our door to trick or treat even though we had lit pumpkins out and lots of candy to hand out, we decided to hit the town this year. At first we were not sure where to go having scouted the local area and noticed there wasn't much going on in terms of pumpkins on display outside houses however after some brief research online, we decided to go to St Johns Wood. It was a great decision because the whole area was packed with kids trick or treating and locals playing music and handing out candy to all the little ghouls and monsters that knocked on their door. T was dressed as Spongebob and his outfit was highly complimented by the many people we encountered on the night. The best part as well was rain which was forecast, stayed away. All in all, it was a great night and T got a massive haul of sweets and candy I needn't return to the store for at least the next few months. We can't wait to do it again next year.

Children centres

If you don't make use of your local children centre, you need to have a change of heart and start using it. Other than the free range of support and services it may offer, the amount of freebies you can receive there have to be seen to be believed. Books, baby products, household products, toys, activity fun days, luncheons...  these are just some of the things I have received free of charge from the children centres I used in the last year. But it doesn't stop there. In the last year, I have been to over six different children centres in my area. They really do do a difficult but they do it very fantastically well. So far, I have had no reason to be unhappy or to complain about them. If you haven't done it yet, go check out the children centres around you, after all it is your taxes that goes towards funding them.

Goo fun

Brought T this £1 bowl of goo two days ago. He has had way much fun with it than with the £10 toy he was given last month. Who says you need something of huge value to stimulate their imagination... not me!

Hard time blogging

I really wished I blogged a lot more these days however I just can't seem to find the time to blog as of late. T has grown into a young toddler now and with that comes a lot more responsibility on my part and less time to do other things I would like to do. Since he is not at nursery yet, I find myself running from play group to play dates, dreaming up ideas to keep him entertained, or doing other random chores around the house with never enough time to do anything else let alone blog. I am so preoccupied with keeping him busy, all I notice now is that the sun is up, the sun is down, next day, etc. In addition I am no longer obsessed with what day of the week it is or the excitement that Friday brings because I no longer get something called a day off.  But that is besides the point. The main reason I don't blog as much anymore is because as soon as I get the itch to sit on the computer, T also gets the itch to sit on my lap for cuddles or  to watch that Elmo's clip he's seen for the umpteenth time again on YouTube. By the time he is done, I have already given up or lost interest. I suppose blogging when he has gone to bed is an option but by that time in the evening I am so mentally drained the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a computer writing so instead I always end up opting for a good TV show and a cup of hot chocolate. Whomever said being a parent is a 24/7 type of job did not lie. It is the hardest job in the world and that is why many aren't cut out for it.
Nevertheless once in a while everything falls into place and I do find a quick moment to blog. This moment is one of those. T is watching TV and playing with some goo I brought him earlier. I for some strange reason haven't managed to doze off while pretending to watch and enjoy the boring cartoon he is watching so lets see how many blogs which I have been saving I can quickly knock out before he changes his mind. Hopefully my break from the blog won't be as long again in future.

The music box

Once in a while I visit the charity shops on our high road to see what hidden treasures are lurking in them at dirt cheap prices. Thrifty I know! I could not believe my eyes while we were in one today and T found a toy music box underneath a pile of cuddly toys I had been looking at. He had wanted one for ages having played with a similar toy at a playgroup we go until the battery in that died and was never replaced. At 99p, this music box is a bargain that should keep him entertained for quite a while.

His first proper video game

T is breathing a well deserved new life into the Nintendo DS I received for Christmas in 2009. A present I treasured and played frequently at first, once the allure wore out, it didn't take long for me to loose interest and toss it somewhere in the house because I am not the handheld console gaming sort of of individual. Luckily I didn't go and sell it off on Ebay or something like that because these days it has become a play and learning tool for the young man. I just brought him his first cartridge, a Sesame Street: Cookies Counting carnival bundle and he is loving the games that include number identification, counting, shapes and pattern recognition at the moment. 

Goodbye gate in the hallway

First his bed railings came off, suddenly it is the turn of the gates in the hallway because T can now climb up and down stairs confidently. The gate in the kitchen doorway remains firmly in place of course. Hot electrical appliances and sharp items aside, there is also the treats cupboard to worry about :)

Elmo shape and spin

Who better to teach him about shapes? His one and only favorite cuddly monster, Elmo! Now let the learning commence.

The power of words

Words of wisdom from one of my favourite models of all time, Iman. She said and I quote: "I have a 12-year old daughter and when she does something wrong, she says, 'I was very bad'. I say, 'no you did something bad. You are not bad'. The action is different from the person who is doing it".
I had to marinade on her comment for a brief moment and then it occurred to me. Words are like invisible projectiles and when we spew them, it is wise to choose carefully in case they cause harm. This visual by Emeli Sande sums up my point exactly. Beware the power of the words you utter!

Go away Daddy!

Still on the subject of  the power of words, T has been saying a few lately that makes me go wowzer what in the world; and the one I detest the most is when he tells us his parents to 'go away'! Something picked up from the playground I suppose because we never say that in the house. Anyway I have tried telling him to stop but he would not so lately I have been resorting to drastic action. This morning he told me to go away after I had told him it was time for breakfast. Thinking I was going to start preaching as I usually do, he was surprised when I simply got up, walked away and disappeared behind the fridge in the kitchen. Oh by the way I just saw a giant spider behind the sofa so do not call for me if you see it, I said loudly from my hiding place. He jumped up instantly, raced to the kitchen only to find the child safety gate was locked and he could not get in. He tugged and pulled while screaming at the same time, 'daddy ungoaway'! I cannot protect you, you told me go away, I answered. 'No come back, come baaaacccck nowwww... spiders try to get me', he screamed. 'I don't want you go away; I scared'. That was the answer I was waiting for. I stood up and told him to repeat what he had just said. Then I pointed out that that is exactly why he should never tell me to go away. He nodded in agreement. In time and with a few more repeats of the same scenario and he should finally get the message.

His Christmas list... so far!

The list of things T wants for Christmas are coming in thick and fast and when I say things, I say it carefully because he wants the real deal not the toy versions. Anyway here they are so far. A school. A playground. A car. An aeroplane. Spongebob & his friend Sandy (I suppose toys might do here since they are not in reality real). His cousin, Tilda for regular play sessions. A birthday party. And finally a Tiffany ring because Papa has one. Hmmm, it seems Santa has his work cut out for him this year.

Swimming lessons

T started swimming lessons two weeks ago and in time should feel very comfortable in water unlike a certain me <I cover my eyes in shame>. Hey it is not all bad, it means I now have another lifeguard at my disposal.

Change of season

It is that time of the year when T and I sadly have to start cutting back on our outdoor play and indulging in a lot more indoor fun activities. At some point this week I am going to have to do the rounds of children's centres and playgroups around the area to pick up their winter schedules. As much as I have lived through many winters in my lifetime I can never seem to get used to the cold or the limitations it places on our lifestyle especially when it comes to the outdoors. The snow that comes with it might be beautiful and offer its own range of activities to indulge in but personally I hate the cold and all the layering of clothing to keep warm!!! Still I cannot complain because after many years of disappointments we have had a nice summer indeed this year; one that was sizzling and perfect for the outdoors. With Halloween, Fireworks night, Thanksgiving and Christmas still on the way, the cold weather might not yet dampen my spirits yet. But once that is all over and January hits, it becomes a tough road until Easter.

His breakfast choice

I suppose T has not yet got the memo there is a recession & I am a zero earner currently being a stay home dad. Just take a look at his preferred breakfast food items. A slice of bread lightly toasted and cut into 4 squares with crust trimmed off topped with rain-forest honey, no butter. Yogurt; if it is in a tub it has to be Petits Filous chocolate or vanilla flavoured, however fruit flavored yogurt of any kind are fine as long as they are in a squeezable tube. A side of fruit; red grapes, strawberries or apple sliced wedges style. Chai tea or coffee favoured milk. A cup of cold water preferably with lemon or lime garnish. And finally they have to be served on his favorite place mat featuring a map of the entire world. Anything else and I am pushing my luck on the wastage front. Talk about being a real divo LOL! 

Another item bites the dust

I am really sad to see these Adidas sneakers go but T has outgrown them and every time he wears them now he moans that they are too small and his toes hurt. He has only had them about 5 months; they were presents to celebrate his 2nd birthday and just like that they no longer fit.
To show just how quick he is growing, in the last year alone he has been through five pairs of shoes; that's an average of one pair of shoes every 2 and a half months. Oh well, better he is growing than not. On to the next one.

To be young and carefree

Sitting at breakfast this morning, the following transpires between T and I
Me: Why do you keep playing when you should be eating? Are you not hungry?
He does not answer. He just carries on playing until he spills yogurt all over the new clothes he is wearing for the first time. He looks up at me and says nothing.
Me: Oh my word! Now look what you've done. You've got chocolate yogurt all over your new clothes.
He looks at his new clothes. "Choooocolate"!
Me: Yes chocolate! It's all over your clothes and I am not pleased.
He looks back at me and shrugs his shoulders. "You clean it"! Just like that he carries on playing.

Story of my life summed up in pictures!

His bed railings came off

T is showing signs he is a big enough boy now by waking up every morning for the past two weeks with a dry (or almost dry) overnight nappy. As a result his bed railing came off to prepare him for those days when he might need to wake up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. So far the transition is going awesome. He hasn't fallen out yet and has been really good settling in and getting out of it all by himself when needed.

'No way'!

T has been saying 'no way' a lot lately when I try to get him to do sometthing and I am slightly baffled by where he got it from considering that is not a phrase we use in our household. That was until yesterday when I saw him try to get past a young girl on the slide apparatus in the park and she screamed at him,'no way'! Good grief the things we come home with from the playground.

He sure loves his sports

T has been an exceptionally well behaved kid today so I gave him a pound coin, took him to Poundland and told him he could have any item he wanted from there. Thinking he was going to go for a pack of sweets, chocolate or a random crappy toy, I was stunned when he walked straight past all of those items and picked up a tennis racket. Future sports star? It is looking more and more likely as each day goes by.

Cest la vie

Don't ask me why he is dressed in onesie and boots, clapping and partying around the house like it's 1999! Such is life with toddlers.

The fantastic mat puzzle

Although it is a real pain when I am cleaning the house, I want to say huge thank you to our fantastic neighbours for getting us this amazing soft alphabet and number puzzle mat jigsaw. It all started as a gift to absorb the unbearable thumping sound that resulted downstairs as a result of T's constant jumping, now however coupled with some other learning tools we have (flashcards, letter factory phonics, etc) it is the best educational gift we could have ever asked for. Other than its shock absorbing qualities, it gives a realistic edge to show me-tell me learning and it makes interactive educational play just that much more fun; think in the region of hopscotching to identify alphabets. In a nutshell, this item does such an amazing job I would definitely recommend it to anyone when cognitive and perceptive educational play is required. Thanks to it T who is only 2 recognizes more that 3/4 of the alphabets.
It doesn't end there, yesterday I realized I could use it for something else. While vacuuming the whole thing came apart and ended up in a heap on the floor. Just as I set about putting it together, T raced up to me and said,' I'll do it'. That was the opportunity I needed to reinforced the importance of participating in cleaning and tidying up. I laid out the outline and told him to finish it up while I moved on to other tasks. Learning while he cleans. I love the sound of that.

Little terror

You know when people with young kids tell you toddlers are little devils... believe them! Three days ago T brought a balloon home from a birthday we had attend and it only took him about a day to find out  I am one of these people that is over-sensitive to high pitched scratching and screeching sound. Now he uses it to terrorize me. Twice today I had chastised him for being disobedient and off he went, grabbed his balloon, walked over to and smiled at me, and started giving the balloon a good scratching. So far it has been difficult not to act as if I am not affected but I am trying. The plan is to let him have his five minutes of fun scratching before I surprise him by popping the balloon with a concealed needle <bang> and scaring the wits out of him to teach him a lesson. I just hope he doesn't poo poo his pants in the process because guess who will have to clean it up?!! Ha ha ha ha Daddy always wins ^_^ 

It's curtains for the Zing Zillas

Just a few weeks ago I wrote talking about how T was all about the Zing Zillas and how I will be watching to see how long the infatuation lasts. Well well well, I was spot on. He's lost his appetite for them and as soon as they come on he moves on to doing something else; like playing with his toys or asking for Mickey instead for instance. Oh to be young and fickle!

What the One Direction movie premiere told me

Watching the premiere of the One Direction movie on the news yesterday I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. These young boys and girls on TV were acting all hyper and crazy holding up all sorts of banners that spelled out actions and emotions that we should consider worrying. Signs of obsessive behavior? Of course however in our celebrity obsessed society, this is considered normalized behavior. Two girls stood out to me during the whole clip but of course I am sure there were others around that were probably even worse but didn't make the broadcast.
The first was about 6 years old and she was holding up a banner that said, "Harry, marry me please"! Like really, a 6 year old! Mind you Harry is 19!!! Not to tarnish Harry with the same brush but have some people not learned from the Jimmy Savile scandal that some celebrity are not all they seem? I can understand if her banner said something along the line of I love or I admire you; but 'marriage'? Talk about putting yourself out there 100%; most adults don't even understand the word 'marriage', let alone a child so what were her parents thinking? When I see things like that, it really makes me question some people's parenting skills. Yes the child did not know better but the parents should. Next thing you know this girl runs away with a complete stranger claiming they are in love and her parents start wondering where they went wrong. Harry might be on a poster in her bedroom and he might sing to her everyday but in reality he is nothing but a stranger. I wonder if her parents have ever mentioned that to her instead of painting some unrealistic sick marriage fantasy. Anyways young lady, I hate to break it to you but I don't think you have any chance with Harry. You are a brunette and I think he prefers blondes. It might hurt your feelings but hey feeling disappointed is a normal emotion that you will experience a lot when you grow up.
The next was a young teen and if I say OTT, she was it to the tee. If anyone has ever been to a traditional Asian or African funeral, you know the type where where people wail, faint and jump up and down; yes that was the right description for her. She was jumping up and down, screaming, twitching and acting like she was about to suffer a seizure. And then one of the One Direction boys stood close and took a picture with her; you would have thought she just met the one true maker Father God, because it certainly looked to me at that point that she had an out of body experience. I doubt if she feels that same kind of excitement for her parents after all she should when they give her free clothing, food, shelter and oh money to give to One Direction (and Simon Cowell). I was left totally speechless.
Moving on swiftly, oh it's not that serious I hear someone say, they are just kids being kids. That's true to an extent. However every time I  have heard people utter that line, it is because their child was being out of control and they could not be bothered to step in and correct them. Instead of dismissing the issue as something else, why not just pull the finger out and pay close attention? If you have ever been on Twitter and have seen the One Direction fans in action you will understand what I mean: the level of obsession is terrifying. Consequently before you think I am a One Direction hater, I am not. I followed their progress on the X-factor, I think some of their songs are cute and I hope for heavens sake they are keeping a fair amount of the money they are making unlike S Club 7 before them who made about £900,000 each through their career compared to their manager's £70M. What I am, is someone who is concerned about the current celebrity obsessed culture we all live in and its wider consequences for society and children's well being. Liking someone is okay. But being obsessed with them that you act a fool... that is crossing the line. Thus, I rest my case.

I am Daddy to you!

T has addressed me by lots of different names in the past and each time I had adopted them without much fuss. I have been known as yaaaaa, eh, daaaaa, da-da, just to name a few. At one point I was even tempted to don a lace front wig, lipstick and earrings when he started calling me mummy but he doesn't anymore now, unless he fancies a laugh at my expense. Just as I was thinking he had settled for daddy, I got a surprise last week when he referred to me by my first name for the first time ever. I thought it was cute at first but a week on, I am starting to think oh no it is not. He doesn't do it every time, just when he feels a sense of urgency. When I correct him, he thinks he's being funny as usual. I might have taken a few things lying down in the past. But this, uh uh no!

Mr Bloom's nursery has struck a nerve

If you happen to be visiting our house and you notice an assortment of vegetables arranged around the TV like in the picture below, it is not because we are a bunch of veggie-nuts, it may be because Mr Bloom's nursery is on TV. It all started about a month ago when I discovered the show and encouraged T to watch it as a means of stimulating his love and appetite for vegetables. It worked because these days he eats a lot more vegetables at food time than he used to. Nevertheless as with everything, there is a by-product. Whenever the show is on and as soon as the vegetables appear on screen, T would run into the kitchen, pick up the vegetables one by one, and arrange them in front of the TV. The squash is his favorite. He would hold and caress it, sing, dance and talk to it. And then just as soon as the show is over he would say goodbye, put all the vegetables down and move on to something else. It is so funny and bizarre to watch.

I got the proof

OK so I have been going on and on about how T always runs to the toughest apparatus in the playground. Usually I'm too busy trying to help or coax him out of going on to take a picture. Yesterday however I manage to snap him in action.

Master tactician

Everyone who has a child can recount stories of how their have one way or another they been manipulated by those kids. From giving a loan you would never get back or caving in and giving that candy you promised never too, many parents have been through it. The things we do for love eh! Sometimes it annoys me when I realise T is employing manipulation tactics to get his way or to stop me doing something. At other times it just cracks me up.
Two days ago, we were in a playground playing football and I struck up conversation with another of the kids present. Soon as T saw I was no longer his centre of attraction, the tactics kicked in. He stood behind the other kid smiling and pulling faces at me. When that didn't work he walked off and next thing started screaming that he was stuck. I looked over and he was holding onto a goal post screaming out loudly that he was stuck and needed help. Well unstuck yourself I responded laughing before carrying on with my conversation.
This morning he was at it again, this time in the shower  because he wasn't happy he was having a scrub. 'Daddy eyes hurt, sunshine in my eyes', he whined as I scrubbed his body. We are indoors and it is cloudy out so how is the sun in your eyes,  I answered scrubbing. Quick pause. 'Sand, sand, sand in my eyes', he whined. I don't see no sand here. We got soap but no sand and there is no soap on your face, I answered without much fuss. Another quick pause. 'Leg, leg, it's broke, it hurts', he whined again his face feigning agony this time. I stood up, grabbed the shower, turned it on and doused him with water to wash him down. Checkmate! That shut his big mouth LOL.

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The Zingzillas

Move over Mickey Mouse and Elmo. These days T enjoys nothing more than to jam to/with the Zingzillas. It won't last of course. I have seen it happen too many times to know now. In time he would go back to loving Mickey and Elmo until he finds something else to adore again for a few days. And then the cycle would once again repeat itself.

Quick moan about the weather

Just when I was thinking we had dodged the good ol' British summer weather this year, it has arrived with a vengeance it seems. The forecast for August is looking well typical and looking out today it is hard to decide which would win; the sun or the dark menacing rain clouds? Suddenly  the days when T and I were out in shorts and tank tops heading to the paddling pool seem a distant memory. Before you know it, it would be winter all over again. Sigh! I hope all you people that were moaning about the heat are happy now.

Peppa Pig got kicked to the kerb

I am aware a lot of kids love Peppa Pig so when T seemed uninterested in it, I was thrilled. It's not like I am against anything popular, it's just I don't really like Peppa Pig and here's why. Peppa pig (the main character) is so naughty and cheeky; she's always questioning her parents when they tell her to do something, and she can't seem to keep herself away from dirt or mud; she is a pig after all. In any case I don't want  T watching her, getting any ideas and adopting her attitude. So just when I thought I had dodged a bullet, a very good friend goes and gets T a Peppa pig magazine full of tons of stickers, drawing and colouring. Suddenly T turned into a Peppa pig enthusiast. He was posting stickers everywhere in the house including on my forehead, the only play he wanted to indulge in was colour Peppa's pictures in his magazine, and every pig he saw was suddenly named Peppa. It was a crazy Peppa invasion.
Just as I was drawing up a counter plan to get Peppa off his case- I was going to blitz him with Mickey and Elmo magazines to remind him of his first loves, we were watching TV today and he had a choice between Peppa and Mickey. Poor old Peppa didn't stand a chance. Just like that my mind was put at ease.

Lots to learn in the playground

Whenever T and I go to the playground, he has a habit of running to the biggest and most difficult of all the equipment there and hollering at me to help get through the paces. Initially I used to indulge him. Then one day I noticed a father telling his son no without necessarily saying the dreaded word. It has been my motto since. Now when we go to the playground and he asks for help play on an equipment that is obviously designed for older kids, I say, 'if you need my help on it, you are not ready to use it'. The things we learn in the playground ha!

No butter please

Once upon a time bananas and eggs were the accursed food items in our household. These days it is butter, cream and anything alike. Ice cream even though it can be white and creamy get a pass of course. Toddlers... They go through phases like one changes underwear!!!